diff --git a/scheme/httpd/surflets/surflets.scm b/scheme/httpd/surflets/surflets.scm
index 540c3de..d094611 100644
--- a/scheme/httpd/surflets/surflets.scm
+++ b/scheme/httpd/surflets/surflets.scm
@@ -301,11 +301,13 @@
 (define (make-text-input-field . maybe-further-attributes)
   (let ((name (generate-input-field-name "text")))
     (optionals maybe-further-attributes 
-	((attributes XML-attribute?))
+	((default-text string?)
+	 (attributes XML-attribute?))
       (make-input-field name
 			identity
 			`(input (@ (type "text")
 				   (name ,name)
+				   ,(and default-text `(value ,default-text))
 				   ;; this will insert a list, but
 				   ;; XML->HTML doesn't care about it
 				   ,(and attributes (cdr attributes))