diff --git a/lib/widget/base.rb b/lib/widget/base.rb
index a58e92b050..2923cc86a0 100644
--- a/lib/widget/base.rb
+++ b/lib/widget/base.rb
@@ -11,26 +11,35 @@ class Widget::Base < Widget
   end
 
   def render_with_options(options = {}, &block)
+    help_text = options[:help_text]
     if canvas = options[:to]
       canvas << "\n" << render(&block)
     else
       render(&block)
     end
   end
-  
+
   ##
   # An optional help text. If defined the Help Widget
   # displaying the given text is going to be placed
   # next to this Widget, if it supports that.
-  def help_text; end
-  
+  def help_text
+    @help_text
+  end
+
+  def help_text=(text)
+    @help_text = text
+  end
+
   ##
   # Appends the Help Widget with this Widget's help text
   # if it is defined to the input.
   # If the help text is not defined the input is returned.
   def maybe_with_help(html, options = {})
-    if help_text
-      help = render_widget Widget::Controls::Help, help_text do
+    text = options[:text]
+    text ||= help_text unless options[:ignore_default]
+    if text
+      help = render_widget Widget::Controls::Help, text do
         options
       end
       html + help