diff --git a/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.cpp b/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.cpp
index b88f0914..ade43489 100644
--- a/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.cpp
+++ b/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.cpp
@@ -119,6 +119,16 @@ void PIValueTree::applyValues(const PIValueTree & root, bool recursive) {
 }
 
 
+PIVariant PIValueTree::childValue(const PIString & child_name, const PIVariant & default_value, bool * exists) const {
+	if (!contains(child_name)) {
+		if (exists) *exists = false;
+		return default_value;
+	}
+	return child(child_name).value();
+	if (exists) *exists = true;
+}
+
+
 bool PIValueTree::contains(const PIString & name) const {
 	if (_is_null) return true;
 	for (const auto & c: _children)
diff --git a/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.h b/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.h
index 816ae708..f85aefb5 100644
--- a/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.h
+++ b/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.h
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ public:
 
 	const PIVector<PIValueTree> & children() const { return _children; }
 	void clearChildren() { _children.clear(); }
+	PIVariant childValue(const PIString & child_name, const PIVariant & default_value = PIVariant(), bool * exists = nullptr) const;
 
 	bool contains(const PIString & name) const;
 	bool contains(const PIStringList & path) const;