diff --git a/src/form/DisplayEdit.js b/src/form/DisplayEdit.js
index fe1b83b..049737a 100644
--- a/src/form/DisplayEdit.js
+++ b/src/form/DisplayEdit.js
@@ -41,6 +41,15 @@ Ext.define('Proxmox.form.field.DisplayEdit', {
 	vm.get('value');
     },
 
+    setEmptyText: function(emptyText) {
+	let me = this;
+	me.editField.setEmptyText(emptyText);
+    },
+    getEmptyText: function() {
+	let me = this;
+	return me.editField.getEmptyText();
+    },
+
     layout: 'fit',
     defaults: {
 	hideLabel: true,
@@ -99,6 +108,11 @@ Ext.define('Proxmox.form.field.DisplayEdit', {
 
 	me.callParent();
 
+	// save a reference to make it easier when one needs to operate on the underlying fields,
+	// like when creating a passthrough getter/setter to allow easy data-binding.
+	me.editField = me.down(editConfig.xtype);
+	me.displayField = me.down(displayConfig.xtype);
+
 	me.getViewModel().set('editable', me.editable);
     },