diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/layers.py b/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/layers.py
index 6cd0c297552aaf2088bf9850a32042bc366547ea..f457f56203eb2c1da62f4d8ad8915c322c822e0a 100644
--- a/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/layers.py
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/layers.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class Layer(core.Layer):
 
     def clear_gradients(self):
         for p in self.parameters():
-            p._clear()
+            p._clear_gradient()
 
     def _build_once(self, inputs):
         pass