diff --git a/common/tool/action_menu.cpp b/common/tool/action_menu.cpp
index 897709581b..ea4e0ca6e2 100644
--- a/common/tool/action_menu.cpp
+++ b/common/tool/action_menu.cpp
@@ -183,21 +183,20 @@ wxMenuItem* ACTION_MENU::Add( const TOOL_ACTION& aAction, bool aIsCheckmarkEntry
 
 wxMenuItem* ACTION_MENU::Add( ACTION_MENU* aMenu )
 {
-    ACTION_MENU* menuCopy = aMenu->Clone();
-    m_submenus.push_back( menuCopy );
+    m_submenus.push_back( aMenu );
 
-    wxASSERT_MSG( !menuCopy->m_title.IsEmpty(), wxT( "Set a title for ACTION_MENU using SetTitle()" ) );
+    wxASSERT_MSG( !aMenu->m_title.IsEmpty(), wxT( "Set a title for ACTION_MENU using SetTitle()" ) );
 
     if( !!aMenu->m_icon )
     {
-        wxMenuItem* newItem = new wxMenuItem( this, -1, menuCopy->m_title );
+        wxMenuItem* newItem = new wxMenuItem( this, -1, aMenu->m_title );
         AddBitmapToMenuItem( newItem, KiBitmap( aMenu->m_icon ) );
-        newItem->SetSubMenu( menuCopy );
+        newItem->SetSubMenu( aMenu );
         return Append( newItem );
     }
     else
     {
-        return AppendSubMenu( menuCopy, menuCopy->m_title );
+        return AppendSubMenu( aMenu, aMenu->m_title );
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/common/tool/conditional_menu.cpp b/common/tool/conditional_menu.cpp
index 7d9f27f077..492ad52cf3 100644
--- a/common/tool/conditional_menu.cpp
+++ b/common/tool/conditional_menu.cpp
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ void CONDITIONAL_MENU::Evaluate( SELECTION& aSelection )
 
             case ENTRY::MENU:
                 entry.Menu()->UpdateTitle();
-                Add( entry.Menu() );
+                Add( entry.Menu()->Clone() );
                 menu_count++;
                 break;
 
diff --git a/eeschema/menubar.cpp b/eeschema/menubar.cpp
index 3843f615e8..bbea599815 100644
--- a/eeschema/menubar.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/menubar.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ void SCH_EDIT_FRAME::ReCreateMenuBar()
         fileMenu->Add( ACTIONS::doNew );
         fileMenu->Add( ACTIONS::open );
 
-        wxMenuItem* item = fileMenu->Add( openRecentMenu );
+        wxMenuItem* item = fileMenu->Add( openRecentMenu->Clone() );
 
         // Add the file menu condition here since it needs the item ID for the submenu
         ACTION_CONDITIONS cond;
diff --git a/gerbview/menubar.cpp b/gerbview/menubar.cpp
index c1985ccfc0..2adf7b6494 100644
--- a/gerbview/menubar.cpp
+++ b/gerbview/menubar.cpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ void GERBVIEW_FRAME::ReCreateMenuBar()
     }
 
     fileMenu->Add( GERBVIEW_ACTIONS::openGerber );
-    wxMenuItem* gbrItem = fileMenu->Add( openRecentGbrMenu );
+    wxMenuItem* gbrItem = fileMenu->Add( openRecentGbrMenu->Clone() );
     RegisterUIUpdateHandler( gbrItem->GetId(), FileHistoryCond( recentGbrFiles) );
 
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ void GERBVIEW_FRAME::ReCreateMenuBar()
     }
 
     fileMenu->Add( GERBVIEW_ACTIONS::openDrillFile );
-    wxMenuItem* drillItem = fileMenu->Add( openRecentDrlMenu );
+    wxMenuItem* drillItem = fileMenu->Add( openRecentDrlMenu->Clone() );
     RegisterUIUpdateHandler( drillItem->GetId(), FileHistoryCond( m_drillFileHistory ) );
 
 
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ void GERBVIEW_FRAME::ReCreateMenuBar()
     }
 
     fileMenu->Add( GERBVIEW_ACTIONS::openJobFile );
-    wxMenuItem* jobItem = fileMenu->Add( openRecentJobMenu );
+    wxMenuItem* jobItem = fileMenu->Add( openRecentJobMenu->Clone() );
     RegisterUIUpdateHandler( jobItem->GetId(), FileHistoryCond( m_jobFileHistory ) );
 
 
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ void GERBVIEW_FRAME::ReCreateMenuBar()
     }
 
     fileMenu->Add( GERBVIEW_ACTIONS::openZipFile );
-    wxMenuItem* zipItem = fileMenu->Add( openRecentZipMenu );
+    wxMenuItem* zipItem = fileMenu->Add( openRecentZipMenu->Clone() );
     RegisterUIUpdateHandler( zipItem->GetId(), FileHistoryCond( m_zipFileHistory ) );
 
 #undef FileHistoryCond
diff --git a/include/tool/action_menu.h b/include/tool/action_menu.h
index 8b281ebb03..f3028818b2 100644
--- a/include/tool/action_menu.h
+++ b/include/tool/action_menu.h
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ public:
      * The difference between this function and wxMenu::AppendSubMenu() is the capability to
      * handle icons.
      *
-     * @param aMenu is the submenu to be added.
+     * @param aMenu is the submenu to be added. This should be a new instance (use Clone()) if required
+     * as the menu is destructed after use.
      */
     wxMenuItem* Add( ACTION_MENU* aMenu );
 
diff --git a/kicad/menubar.cpp b/kicad/menubar.cpp
index 734753c131..4c4390e215 100644
--- a/kicad/menubar.cpp
+++ b/kicad/menubar.cpp
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ void KICAD_MANAGER_FRAME::ReCreateMenuBar()
 
     fileMenu->Add( KICAD_MANAGER_ACTIONS::openProject );
 
-    wxMenuItem* item = fileMenu->Add( openRecentMenu );
+    wxMenuItem* item = fileMenu->Add( openRecentMenu->Clone() );
 
     // Add the file menu condition here since it needs the item ID for the submenu
     ACTION_CONDITIONS cond;
diff --git a/pagelayout_editor/menubar.cpp b/pagelayout_editor/menubar.cpp
index c4994daec2..80b7f5239d 100644
--- a/pagelayout_editor/menubar.cpp
+++ b/pagelayout_editor/menubar.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ void PL_EDITOR_FRAME::ReCreateMenuBar()
     fileMenu->Add( ACTIONS::doNew );
     fileMenu->Add( ACTIONS::open );
 
-    wxMenuItem* item = fileMenu->Add( openRecentMenu );
+    wxMenuItem* item = fileMenu->Add( openRecentMenu->Clone() );
 
     // Add the file menu condition here since it needs the item ID for the submenu
     ACTION_CONDITIONS cond;
diff --git a/pcbnew/menubar_pcb_editor.cpp b/pcbnew/menubar_pcb_editor.cpp
index e34cc02c03..c6bda35868 100644
--- a/pcbnew/menubar_pcb_editor.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/menubar_pcb_editor.cpp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::ReCreateMenuBar()
         fileMenu->Add( ACTIONS::doNew );
         fileMenu->Add( ACTIONS::open );
 
-        wxMenuItem* item = fileMenu->Add( openRecentMenu );
+        wxMenuItem* item = fileMenu->Add( openRecentMenu->Clone() );
 
         // Add the file menu condition here since it needs the item ID for the submenu
         ACTION_CONDITIONS cond;