diff --git a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
index 30d8ea1f68..2556aa910a 100644
--- a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
+++ b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
@@ -89,6 +89,15 @@ void VoxelNode::deleteChildAtIndex(int childIndex) {
     }
 }
 
+// does not delete the node!
+VoxelNode* VoxelNode::removeChildAtIndex(int childIndex) {
+    VoxelNode* returnedChild = _children[childIndex];
+    if (_children[childIndex]) {
+        _children[childIndex] = NULL;
+    }
+    return returnedChild;
+}
+
 void VoxelNode::addChildAtIndex(int childIndex) {
     if (!_children[childIndex]) {
         _children[childIndex] = new VoxelNode(childOctalCode(_octalCode, childIndex));
diff --git a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.h b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.h
index 8e3fa1b4d6..386f95e634 100644
--- a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.h
+++ b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ public:
     unsigned char* getOctalCode() const { return _octalCode; };
     VoxelNode* getChildAtIndex(int i) const { return _children[i]; };
     void deleteChildAtIndex(int childIndex);
+    VoxelNode* removeChildAtIndex(int childIndex);
     void addChildAtIndex(int childIndex);
     void setColorFromAverageOfChildren();
     void setRandomColor(int minimumBrightness);