diff --git a/clutter/clutter-effect.c b/clutter/clutter-effect.c
index 076fe8996..b753fc3b6 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-effect.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-effect.c
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ clutter_effect_closure_new (ClutterEffectTemplate *template,
 
   c->template = template;
   c->actor    = actor;
-  c->timeline = clutter_timeline_copy (priv->timeline);
+  c->timeline = clutter_timeline_clone (priv->timeline);
   c->alpha    = clutter_alpha_new_full (c->timeline,
 					priv->alpha_func,
 					NULL, NULL);
diff --git a/clutter/clutter-timeline.c b/clutter/clutter-timeline.c
index c408d8ed3..68cf80442 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-timeline.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-timeline.c
@@ -631,28 +631,30 @@ clutter_timeline_is_playing (ClutterTimeline *timeline)
 }
 
 /**
- * clutter_timeline_copy:
+ * clutter_timeline_clone:
  * @timeline: #ClutterTimeline to duplicate.
  *
  * Create a new #ClutterTimeline instance which has property values
- * matching that of supplied timeline.
+ * matching that of supplied timeline. The cloned timeline will not
+ * be started and will not be positioned to the current position of
+ * @timeline: you will have to start it with clutter_timeline_start().
  *
- * Return Value: a new #ClutterTimeline
+ * Return Value: a new #ClutterTimeline, cloned from @timeline
  *
  * Since 0.4
  */
-ClutterTimeline*
-clutter_timeline_copy (ClutterTimeline *timeline)
+ClutterTimeline *
+clutter_timeline_clone (ClutterTimeline *timeline)
 {
   ClutterTimeline *copy;
 
   g_return_val_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_TIMELINE (timeline), NULL);
 
-  copy = g_object_new (CLUTTER_TYPE_TIMELINE, NULL);
-
-  copy->priv->fps      = timeline->priv->fps;
-  copy->priv->n_frames = timeline->priv->n_frames;
-  copy->priv->loop     = timeline->priv->loop;
+  copy = g_object_new (CLUTTER_TYPE_TIMELINE,
+                       "fps", clutter_timeline_get_speed (timeline),
+                       "num-frames", clutter_timeline_get_n_frames (timeline),
+                       "loop", clutter_timeline_get_loop (timeline),
+                       NULL);
 
   return copy;
 }
diff --git a/clutter/clutter-timeline.h b/clutter/clutter-timeline.h
index 92f077635..9d980afd2 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-timeline.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter-timeline.h
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ GType clutter_timeline_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 
 ClutterTimeline *clutter_timeline_new               (guint            n_frames,
                                                      guint            fps);
+ClutterTimeline *clutter_timeline_clone             (ClutterTimeline *timeline);
+
 guint            clutter_timeline_get_speed         (ClutterTimeline *timeline);
 void             clutter_timeline_set_speed         (ClutterTimeline *timeline,
                                                      guint            fps);
@@ -106,7 +108,6 @@ void             clutter_timeline_set_n_frames      (ClutterTimeline *timeline,
                                                      guint            n_frames);
 guint            clutter_timeline_get_n_frames      (ClutterTimeline *timeline);
 gboolean         clutter_timeline_is_playing        (ClutterTimeline *timeline);
-ClutterTimeline* clutter_timeline_copy              (ClutterTimeline *timeline);
 
 G_END_DECLS
 
diff --git a/doc/reference/clutter-sections.txt b/doc/reference/clutter-sections.txt
index db388c170..08990c3eb 100644
--- a/doc/reference/clutter-sections.txt
+++ b/doc/reference/clutter-sections.txt
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ clutter_perspective_get_type
 ClutterTimeline
 ClutterTimelineClass
 clutter_timeline_new
-clutter_timeline_copy
+clutter_timeline_clone
 clutter_timeline_set_speed
 clutter_timeline_get_speed
 clutter_timeline_start