diff --git a/libgnucash/app-utils/gnc-option-ui.hpp b/libgnucash/app-utils/gnc-option-ui.hpp
index 847813b484..87ca289a8b 100644
--- a/libgnucash/app-utils/gnc-option-ui.hpp
+++ b/libgnucash/app-utils/gnc-option-ui.hpp
@@ -44,14 +44,17 @@ using GncOptionUIItemPtr = std::unique_ptr<GncOptionUIItem>;
 class GncOptionUIItem
 {
 public:
-    GncOptionUIItem() = default;
+    GncOptionUIItem(GncOptionUIType type) : m_type{type} {}
     virtual ~GncOptionUIItem() = default;
-    virtual GncOptionUIType get_ui_type() const noexcept = 0;
-    virtual void set_dirty(bool status) noexcept = 0;
-    virtual bool get_dirty() const noexcept = 0;
+    GncOptionUIType get_ui_type() const noexcept { return m_type; }
+    virtual void set_dirty(bool status) noexcept { m_dirty = status; }
+    virtual bool get_dirty() const noexcept { return m_dirty; }
     virtual void clear_ui_item() = 0;
     virtual void set_ui_item_from_option(GncOption& option) noexcept = 0;
     virtual void set_option_from_ui_item(GncOption& option) noexcept = 0;
+private:
+    GncOptionUIType m_type;
+    bool m_dirty = false;
 };
 
 #endif //GNC_OPTION_UI_HPP__
diff --git a/libgnucash/app-utils/test/gtest-gnc-option.cpp b/libgnucash/app-utils/test/gtest-gnc-option.cpp
index 6be3328ae8..a1144a4e0d 100644
--- a/libgnucash/app-utils/test/gtest-gnc-option.cpp
+++ b/libgnucash/app-utils/test/gtest-gnc-option.cpp
@@ -522,8 +522,8 @@ class OptionUIItem : public GncOptionUIItem
     GncUIType m_widget;
     bool m_dirty = false;
 public:
+    OptionUIItem() : GncOptionUIItem{GncOptionUIType::STRING} {}
     ~OptionUIItem() = default;
-    GncOptionUIType get_ui_type() const noexcept override { return GncOptionUIType::STRING; }
     void set_dirty(bool status) noexcept override { m_dirty = status; }
     bool get_dirty() const noexcept override { return m_dirty; }
     void clear_ui_item() override { m_widget.clear(); }