diff --git a/include/wx/gtk1/spinctrl.h b/include/wx/gtk1/spinctrl.h
index 45a7473ca0..f037be2ebe 100644
--- a/include/wx/gtk1/spinctrl.h
+++ b/include/wx/gtk1/spinctrl.h
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ public:
     void SetValue(const wxString& text);
     void SetSelection(long from, long to);
 
+    virtual wxString GetTextValue() const;
     virtual int GetValue() const;
     virtual void SetValue( int value );
     virtual void SetRange( int minVal, int maxVal );
diff --git a/src/gtk1/spinctrl.cpp b/src/gtk1/spinctrl.cpp
index 98934ec791..0483b21d33 100644
--- a/src/gtk1/spinctrl.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk1/spinctrl.cpp
@@ -203,6 +203,13 @@ int wxSpinCtrl::GetMax() const
     return (int)ceil(m_adjust->upper);
 }
 
+wxString wxSpinCtrl::GetTextValue() const
+{
+    wxCHECK_MSG(m_widget, wxEmptyString, "invalid spin button");
+
+    return gtk_entry_get_text( GTK_ENTRY(m_widget) );
+}
+
 int wxSpinCtrl::GetValue() const
 {
     wxCHECK_MSG( (m_widget != NULL), 0, wxT("invalid spin button") );