diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectEntryScroll.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectEntryScroll.py
index 0cd7c3ea21..fd369b2716 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectEntryScroll.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectEntryScroll.py
@@ -29,19 +29,41 @@ class DirectEntryScroll(DirectFrame):
            # frameSize = (-0.006, 3.2, -0.015, 0.036),
         # if you need to scale the entry scale it's parent instead
 
-        self.entry = entry
         self.canvas = NodePath(self.guiItem.getCanvasNode())
-        self.entry.reparentTo(self.canvas)
         self.canvas.setPos(0,0,0)
 
-        self.entry.bind(DGG.CURSORMOVE,self.cursorMove)
+        self.entry = None
+        if entry is not None:
+            self.entry = entry
+            self.entry.reparentTo(self.canvas)
+            self.entry.bind(DGG.CURSORMOVE, self.cursorMove)
 
         self.canvas.node().setBounds(OmniBoundingVolume())
         self.canvas.node().setFinal(1)
         self.resetCanvas()
 
+    def setEntry(self, entry):
+        """
+        Sets a DirectEntry element for this scroll frame. A DirectEntryScroll
+        can only hold one entry at a time, so make sure to not call this
+        function twice or call clearEntry before to make sure no entry
+        is already set.
+        """
+        assert self.entry is None, "An entry was already set for this DirectEntryScroll element"
+        self.entry = entry
+        self.entry.reparentTo(self.canvas)
 
+        self.entry.bind(DGG.CURSORMOVE, self.cursorMove)
 
+    def clearEntry(self):
+        """
+        detaches and unbinds the entry from the scroll frame and its
+        events. You'll be responsible for destroying it.
+        """
+        if self.entry is None: return
+        self.entry.unbind(DGG.CURSORMOVE)
+        self.entry.detachNode()
+        self.entry = None
 
     def cursorMove(self, cursorX, cursorY):
         cursorX = self.entry.guiItem.getCursorX() * self.entry['text_scale'][0]