diff --git a/headers/os/interface/ControlLook.h b/headers/os/interface/ControlLook.h
index ec4476248e..6de91e289d 100644
--- a/headers/os/interface/ControlLook.h
+++ b/headers/os/interface/ControlLook.h
@@ -84,8 +84,9 @@ public:
 		B_IGNORE_OUTLINE		= 1 << 6,
 		B_PARTIALLY_ACTIVATED	= 1 << 7, // like B_ACTIVATED, but for tri-state
 		B_FLAT					= 1 << 8, // flat look (e.g. button background)
+		B_INVALID				= 1 << 9, // invalid value, use B_FAILURE_COLOR
 
-		B_BLEND_FRAME		= 1 << 16
+		B_BLEND_FRAME			= 1 << 16,
 	};
 
 	virtual BAlignment			DefaultLabelAlignment() const;
diff --git a/headers/os/interface/TextControl.h b/headers/os/interface/TextControl.h
index 05bf6dec3b..95906b32ed 100644
--- a/headers/os/interface/TextControl.h
+++ b/headers/os/interface/TextControl.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ public:
 
 	virtual	void				SetText(const char* text);
 			const char*			Text() const;
+			void				MarkAsInvalid(bool invalid);
 
 	virtual	void				SetValue(int32 value);
 	virtual	status_t			Invoke(BMessage* message = NULL);
@@ -139,8 +140,9 @@ private:
 			float				fDivider;
 
 			LayoutData*			fLayoutData;
+			uint32				fLook;
 
-			uint32				_reserved[9];
+			uint32				_reserved[8];
 };
 
 #endif	// _TEXT_CONTROL_H
diff --git a/src/kits/interface/TextControl.cpp b/src/kits/interface/TextControl.cpp
index f4828d670b..caabbbed37 100644
--- a/src/kits/interface/TextControl.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/interface/TextControl.cpp
@@ -333,6 +333,16 @@ BTextControl::Text() const
 }
 
 
+void
+BTextControl::MarkAsInvalid(bool invalid)
+{
+	if (invalid)
+		fLook |= BControlLook::B_INVALID;
+	else
+		fLook &= ~BControlLook::B_INVALID;
+}
+
+
 void
 BTextControl::SetValue(int32 value)
 {
@@ -425,7 +435,7 @@ BTextControl::Draw(BRect updateRect)
 
 	if (be_control_look != NULL) {
 		rgb_color base = ui_color(B_PANEL_BACKGROUND_COLOR);
-		uint32 flags = 0;
+		uint32 flags = fLook;
 		if (!enabled)
 			flags |= BControlLook::B_DISABLED;
 		if (active)
@@ -1122,6 +1132,8 @@ BTextControl::_InitData(const char* label, const BMessage* archive)
 
 	if (label)
 		fDivider = floorf(bounds.Width() / 2.0f);
+
+	fLook = 0;
 }