diff --git a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/FormTool.java b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/FormTool.java
index 627185cb..b931ce44 100644
--- a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/FormTool.java
+++ b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/FormTool.java
@@ -329,6 +329,15 @@ public class FormTool
      * parameters, and default text.
      */
     public String textarea (String name, String extra, Object defaultValue)
+    {
+        return fixedTextarea(name, extra, getValue(name, defaultValue));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Construct a text area with the specified name, optional extra parameters
+     * and the specified text.
+     */
+    public String fixedTextarea (String name, String extra, Object value)
     {
         StringBuffer buf = new StringBuffer();
         buf.append("<textarea name=\"").append(name).append("\"");
@@ -336,7 +345,7 @@ public class FormTool
             buf.append(" ").append(extra);
         }
         buf.append(">");
-        buf.append(getValue(name, defaultValue));
+        buf.append(value);
         buf.append("</textarea>");
         return buf.toString();
     }