diff --git a/library/lua/gui/widgets/text_area.lua b/library/lua/gui/widgets/text_area.lua
index c6711f90fd..a23195b133 100644
--- a/library/lua/gui/widgets/text_area.lua
+++ b/library/lua/gui/widgets/text_area.lua
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ function TextArea:getText()
     return self.subviews.text_area.text
 end
 
+function TextArea:setText(text)
+    return self.subviews.text_area:setText(text)
+end
+
 function TextArea:getCursor()
     return self.subviews.text_area.cursor
 end
diff --git a/test/library/gui/widgets.TextArea.lua b/test/library/gui/widgets.TextArea.lua
index 15982f7ae6..6be1fe46ae 100644
--- a/test/library/gui/widgets.TextArea.lua
+++ b/test/library/gui/widgets.TextArea.lua
@@ -2600,3 +2600,20 @@ function test.fast_rewind_reset_selection()
 
     screen:dismiss()
 end
+
+function test.render_text_set_by_api()
+    local text_area, screen, window = arrange_textarea({w=80})
+
+    local text = table.concat({
+        'Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.',
+        'Pellentesque dignissim volutpat orci, sed molestie metus elementum vel.',
+        'Donec sit amet mattis ligula, ac vestibulum lorem.',
+    }, '\n')
+
+    text_area:setText(text)
+    text_area:setCursor(#text + 1)
+
+    expect.eq(read_rendered_text(text_area), text .. '_')
+
+    -- screen:dismiss()
+end