diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/flex/CommandMenu.as b/src/as/com/threerings/flex/CommandMenu.as
index 2348fc16..bbfe4cc9 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/flex/CommandMenu.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/flex/CommandMenu.as
@@ -138,12 +138,21 @@ public class CommandMenu extends Menu
     {
         super();
 
-        itemRenderer = new ClassFactory(CommandMenuItemRenderer);
+        itemRenderer = new ClassFactory(getItemRenderer());
 
         verticalScrollPolicy = ScrollPolicy.OFF;
         addEventListener(MenuEvent.ITEM_CLICK, itemClicked);
     }
 
+    /** 
+     * Called in the CommandMenu constructor, this should return the item rendering class for this
+     * CommandMenu.
+     */
+    protected function getItemRenderer () :Class
+    {
+        return CommandMenuItemRenderer;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Configures the event dispatcher to be used when dispatching this menu's command events.
      * Normally they will be dispatched on our parent (usually the SystemManager or something).