diff --git a/spec/pane-spec.coffee b/spec/pane-spec.coffee
index ba2f02802..6ee7d1bab 100644
--- a/spec/pane-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/pane-spec.coffee
@@ -209,6 +209,12 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       expect(item2.isDestroyed()).toBe true
       expect(events).toEqual [{item: item2, index: 1}]
 
+    it "invokes ::onWillRemoveItem() observers", ->
+      events = []
+      pane.onWillRemoveItem (event) -> events.push(event)
+      pane.destroyItem(item2)
+      expect(events).toEqual [{item: item2, index: 1, destroyed: true}]
+
     it "invokes ::onDidRemoveItem() observers", ->
       events = []
       pane.onDidRemoveItem (event) -> events.push(event)
@@ -496,6 +502,13 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       expect(pane1.getItems()).toEqual [item1, item3]
       expect(pane2.getItems()).toEqual [item4, item2, item5]
 
+    it "invokes ::onWillRemoveItem() observers", ->
+      events = []
+      pane1.onWillRemoveItem (event) -> events.push(event)
+      pane1.moveItemToPane(item2, pane2, 1)
+
+      expect(events).toEqual [{item: item2, index: 1, destroyed: false}]
+
     it "invokes ::onDidRemoveItem() observers", ->
       events = []
       pane1.onDidRemoveItem (event) -> events.push(event)
diff --git a/src/pane.coffee b/src/pane.coffee
index 477239bdd..53980c8d1 100644
--- a/src/pane.coffee
+++ b/src/pane.coffee
@@ -163,6 +163,15 @@ class Pane extends Model
   onDidRemoveItem: (callback) ->
     @emitter.on 'did-remove-item', callback
 
+  # Public: Invoke the given callback before an item is removed from the pane.
+  #
+  # * `callback` {Function} to be called with when items are removed.
+  #   * `event` {Object} with the following keys:
+  #     * `item` The pane item to be removed.
+  #     * `index` {Number} indicating where the item is located.
+  onWillRemoveItem: (callback) ->
+    @emitter.on 'will-remove-item', callback
+
   # Public: Invoke the given callback when an item is moved within the pane.
   #
   # * `callback` {Function} to be called with when items are moved.
@@ -358,6 +367,8 @@ class Pane extends Model
     index = @items.indexOf(item)
     return if index is -1
 
+    @emitter.emit 'will-remove-item', {item, index, destroyed}
+
     if Grim.includeDeprecatedAPIs and typeof item.on is 'function'
       @unsubscribe item
     @unsubscribeFromItem(item)