diff --git a/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/controls/juce_Slider.cpp b/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/controls/juce_Slider.cpp
index d10a732fc6..39ed12a645 100644
--- a/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/controls/juce_Slider.cpp
+++ b/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/controls/juce_Slider.cpp
@@ -288,6 +288,14 @@ void Slider::setTextBoxIsEditable (const bool shouldBeEditable) throw()
         valueBox->setEditable (shouldBeEditable && isEnabled());
 }
 
+void Slider::showTextBox()
+{
+    jassert (editableText); // this should probably be avoided in read-only sliders.
+
+    if (valueBox != 0)
+        valueBox->showEditor();
+}
+
 void Slider::hideTextBox (const bool discardCurrentEditorContents)
 {
     if (valueBox != 0)
diff --git a/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/controls/juce_Slider.h b/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/controls/juce_Slider.h
index 704be9a50b..3c51ed4f62 100644
--- a/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/controls/juce_Slider.h
+++ b/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/controls/juce_Slider.h
@@ -289,6 +289,13 @@ public:
     */
     bool isTextBoxEditable() const throw()                                  { return editableText; }
 
+    /** If the text-box is editable, this will give it the focus so that the user can
+        type directly into it.
+
+        This is basically the effect as the user clicking on it.
+    */
+    void showTextBox();
+
     /** If the text-box currently has focus and is being edited, this resets it and takes keyboard
         focus away from it.