diff --git a/include/buttonmanager.h b/include/buttonmanager.h
index 5b00544..f5e2474 100644
--- a/include/buttonmanager.h
+++ b/include/buttonmanager.h
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ private:
 	void select(QTreeWidgetItem* item);
 
 	QTreeWidgetItem* getSelectedItem() const;
+	template<typename T>
+	T* getSelectedItem() const;
 	// create: allow this method to create a new Row, if nothing else is found
 	// onlyIfSelected: only return a row if there is a selection
 	RowItem* getCurrentRow(bool create = true, bool onlyIfSelected = false);
diff --git a/src/buttonmanager.cpp b/src/buttonmanager.cpp
index 2c7b99c..699d141 100644
--- a/src/buttonmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/buttonmanager.cpp
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ void ButtonManager::downButton() {
 void ButtonManager::itemSelected() {
 	Log::debug << "item selected";
 
-	ButtonManagerItem* item = dynamic_cast<ButtonManagerItem*>(getSelectedItem());
+	ButtonManagerItem* item = getSelectedItem<ButtonManagerItem>();
 	if(item) {
 		// set buttons
 		ui->editButton->setEnabled(item->hasEdit());
@@ -243,6 +243,11 @@ QTreeWidgetItem* ButtonManager::getSelectedItem() const {
 	return items.at(0);
 }
 
+template<typename T>
+T* ButtonManager::getSelectedItem() const {
+	return dynamic_cast<T*>(getSelectedItem());
+}
+
 RowItem* ButtonManager::getCurrentRow(bool create, bool onlyIfSelected) {
 	QTreeWidgetItem* selectedItem = getSelectedItem();
 	// no item selected and its allowed to use alternative messures
@@ -328,7 +333,7 @@ RowItem* ButtonManager::addNewRow() {
 
 template<void (ButtonManagerItem::*T)()>
 void ButtonManager::perform() {
-	ButtonManagerItem* item = dynamic_cast<ButtonManagerItem*>(getSelectedItem());
+	ButtonManagerItem* item = getSelectedItem<ButtonManagerItem>();
 	if(item) {
 		(item->*T)();
 	} else {