diff --git a/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/client/ui/TextBox.java b/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/client/ui/TextBox.java
index e08575c..bc10ca8 100644
--- a/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/client/ui/TextBox.java
+++ b/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/client/ui/TextBox.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 package com.google.gwt.user.client.ui;
 
 import com.google.gwt.user.client.DOM;
+import com.google.gwt.user.client.Element;
 
 /**
  * A standard single-line text box.
@@ -44,6 +45,14 @@
     super(DOM.createInputText());
     setStyleName("gwt-TextBox");
   }
+  
+  /**
+   * Protected constructor for use by subclasses.
+   * @param element element
+   */
+  TextBox(Element element) {
+    super(element); 
+  }
 
   /**
    * Gets the maximum allowable length of the text box.