diff --git a/plantcv/learn/train_kmeans.py b/plantcv/learn/train_kmeans.py
index e5ee33e16..b27ff4017 100644
--- a/plantcv/learn/train_kmeans.py
+++ b/plantcv/learn/train_kmeans.py
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ def patch_extract(img, patch_size=10, sigma=5, sampling=None, seed=1):
         img_blur = np.round(gaussian(img, sigma=sigma)*255).astype(np.uint16)
     elif len(img.shape) == 3 and img.shape[2] == 3:
         img_blur = np.round(gaussian(img, sigma=sigma, channel_axis=2)*255).astype(np.uint16)
+    elif len(img.shape) == 3 and img.shape[2] == 4:  # rgb with alpha
+        img = img[:, :, :3]  # removes alpha channel
+        img_blur = np.round(gaussian(img, sigma=sigma, channel_axis=2)*255).astype(np.uint16)
 
     # Extract patches
     patches = image.extract_patches_2d(img_blur, (patch_size, patch_size),