diff --git a/artiq/gui/tools.py b/artiq/gui/tools.py
index 4adc1be39..d199498e8 100644
--- a/artiq/gui/tools.py
+++ b/artiq/gui/tools.py
@@ -79,7 +79,9 @@ class ListSyncer:
 
 
 class DictSyncer:
-    def __init__(self, store, init):
+    def __init__(self, store, init, keep_data=False):
+        if keep_data:
+            self.data = init
         self.store = store
         self.store.clear()
         self.order = []
@@ -94,6 +96,8 @@ class DictSyncer:
         raise KeyError
 
     def __setitem__(self, key, value):
+        if hasattr(self, "data"):
+            data[key] = value
         try:
             i = self._find_index(key)
         except KeyError:
@@ -111,6 +115,8 @@ class DictSyncer:
         self.order.insert(j, (key, ord_el))
 
     def __delitem__(self, key):
+        if hasattr(self, "data"):
+            del self.data[key]
         i = self._find_index(key)
         del self.store[i]
         del self.order[i]