diff --git a/functions.lua b/functions.lua
index f5b21b8..f634d7b 100644
--- a/functions.lua
+++ b/functions.lua
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ end
 -- the option to override next_id and provide a value is needed when a new dialog was
 -- added, then edited, and then discarded; it's still needed after that, but has to
 -- be reset to empty state (wasn't stored before)
-yl_speak_up.add_new_dialog = function(dialog, pname, next_id)
+yl_speak_up.add_new_dialog = function(dialog, pname, next_id, dialog_text)
 	if(not(next_id)) then
 		next_id = yl_speak_up.find_next_id(dialog.n_dialogs)
 	end
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ yl_speak_up.add_new_dialog = function(dialog, pname, next_id)
 	dialog.n_dialogs[future_d_id] = {
 		d_id = future_d_id,
 		d_type = "text",
-		d_text = "",
+		d_text = (dialog_text or ""),
 		d_sort = next_id
 		}
 	-- store that there have been changes to this npc