diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
index ed4f24d8..9e23e1f2 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
@@ -947,10 +947,18 @@ SGRect<int> intersectRect(const SGRect<int>& a, const SGRect<int>& b)
     }
       
     image->setColor(color, x, y);
-    auto c = getCanvas().lock();
-    c->enableRendering(true); // force a repaint
   }
 
+    void Image::dirtyPixels()
+    {
+        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image = _texture->getImage();
+        if (!image)
+            return;
+        image->dirty();
+        auto c = getCanvas().lock();
+        c->enableRendering(true); // force a repaint
+    }
+
   void Image::allocateImage()
   {
     osg::Image* image = new osg::Image;
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
index a1aeed2f..bed5666d 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
@@ -115,6 +115,11 @@ namespace canvas
       
       void setPixel(int x, int y, const osg::Vec4& color);
 
+      /**
+        * mark the image pixels as modified, so the canvas is re-painted
+       */
+      void dirtyPixels();
+      
       osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> getImage() const;
       
     //  void setRow(int row, int offset, )