diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ArrayField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ArrayField.php
index 656647b38..95a759dbd 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ArrayField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ArrayField.php
@@ -58,6 +58,16 @@ class ArrayField extends BaseField
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * retrieve read only template with defaults (copy of internal structure)
+     * @return null|BaseField template node
+     */
+    public function getTemplateNode()
+    {
+        $result = clone $this->internalTemplateNode;
+        return $result;
+    }
+
     /**
      * add new node containing the types from the first node (copy)
      * @return ContainerField created node