diff --git a/artiq/gui/models.py b/artiq/gui/models.py
index 74f17d6f2..4d4c08b67 100644
--- a/artiq/gui/models.py
+++ b/artiq/gui/models.py
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@ from PyQt5 import QtCore
 from artiq.protocols.sync_struct import Subscriber
 
 
-class ModelSubscriber(Subscriber):
-    def __init__(self, notifier_name, model_factory):
-        Subscriber.__init__(self, notifier_name, self._create_model)
+class ModelManager:
+    def __init__(self, model_factory):
         self.model = None
         self._model_factory = model_factory
         self._setmodel_callbacks = []
@@ -22,6 +21,24 @@ class ModelSubscriber(Subscriber):
             cb(self.model)
 
 
+class ModelSubscriber(ModelManager, Subscriber):
+    def __init__(self, notifier_name, model_factory):
+        ModelManager.__init__(self, model_factory)
+        Subscriber.__init__(self, notifier_name, self._create_model)
+
+
+class LocalModelManager(ModelManager):
+    def __init__(self, model_factory):
+        ModelManager.__init__(self, model_factory)
+        self.notify_cbs = []
+
+    def init(self, struct):
+        self._create_model(struct)
+        mod = {"action": "init", "struct": struct}
+        for notify_cb in self.notify_cbs:
+            notify_cb(mod)
+
+
 class _SyncSubstruct:
     def __init__(self, update_cb, ref):
         self.update_cb = update_cb