diff --git a/lisp/rect.el b/lisp/rect.el
index 4e412befa46..97fa980d1a6 100644
--- a/lisp/rect.el
+++ b/lisp/rect.el
@@ -342,6 +342,12 @@ This command does not delete or overwrite any existing text."
   (move-to-column-force startcol)
   (insert string))
 
+;;;###autoload
+(defun replace-rectangle (start end string)
+  "Like `string-rectangle', but replace the original region."
+  (interactive "*r\nsString rectangle: ")
+  (apply-on-rectangle 'string-rectangle-line start end string t))
+
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun clear-rectangle (start end &optional fill)
   "Blank out the region-rectangle.