diff --git a/spec/pane-spec.coffee b/spec/pane-spec.coffee
index 2fb011124..dcd5eb7d8 100644
--- a/spec/pane-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/pane-spec.coffee
@@ -144,14 +144,32 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       pane = new Pane(items: [new Item("A"), new Item("B"), new Item("C")])
       [item1, item2, item3] = pane.getItems()
 
-    it "removes the item from the items list", ->
+    it "removes the item from the items list and destroyes it", ->
       expect(pane.getActiveItem()).toBe item1
       pane.destroyItem(item2)
       expect(item2 in pane.getItems()).toBe false
+      expect(item2.isDestroyed()).toBe true
       expect(pane.getActiveItem()).toBe item1
 
       pane.destroyItem(item1)
       expect(item1 in pane.getItems()).toBe false
+      expect(item1.isDestroyed()).toBe true
+
+    it "invokes ::onWillDestroyItem() observers before destroying the item", ->
+      events = []
+      pane.onWillDestroyItem (event) ->
+        expect(item2.isDestroyed()).toBe false
+        events.push(event)
+
+      pane.destroyItem(item2)
+      expect(item2.isDestroyed()).toBe true
+      expect(events).toEqual [{item: item2, index: 1}]
+
+    it "invokes ::onDidRemoveItem() observers", ->
+      events = []
+      pane.onDidRemoveItem (event) -> events.push(event)
+      pane.destroyItem(item2)
+      expect(events).toEqual [{item: item2, index: 1, destroyed: true}]
 
     describe "when the destroyed item is the active item and is the first item", ->
       it "activates the next item", ->
@@ -168,12 +186,6 @@ describe "Pane", ->
         pane.destroyItem(item2)
         expect(pane.getActiveItem()).toBe item1
 
-    it "invokes ::onDidRemoveItem() observers", ->
-      events = []
-      pane.onDidRemoveItem (event) -> events.push(event)
-      pane.destroyItem(item2)
-      expect(events).toEqual [{item: item2, index: 1, destroyed: true}]
-
     describe "if the item is modified", ->
       itemUri = null
 
diff --git a/src/pane.coffee b/src/pane.coffee
index e81d2f7d1..45d49575e 100644
--- a/src/pane.coffee
+++ b/src/pane.coffee
@@ -109,6 +109,9 @@ class Pane extends Model
   onDidChangeActiveItem: (fn) ->
     @emitter.on 'did-change-active-item', fn
 
+  onWillDestroyItem: (fn) ->
+    @emitter.on 'will-destroy-item', fn
+
   isActive: -> @active
 
   # Called by the view layer to indicate that the pane has gained focus.
@@ -252,8 +255,10 @@ class Pane extends Model
   # Public: Destroys the given item. If it is the active item, activate the next
   # one. If this is the last item, also destroys the pane.
   destroyItem: (item) ->
-    if item?
+    index = @items.indexOf(item)
+    if index isnt -1
       @emit 'before-item-destroyed', item
+      @emitter.emit 'will-destroy-item', {item, index}
       if @promptToSaveItem(item)
         @removeItem(item, true)
         item.destroy?()