diff --git a/mxml.c b/mxml.c
index 585df79..995b59a 100755
--- a/mxml.c
+++ b/mxml.c
@@ -517,6 +517,21 @@ int mxml_write_comment(MXML_WRITER *writer, const char *string)
 
 /*------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
+/**
+ * shortcut to write an element with a value but without attribute
+ */
+int mxml_write_element(MXML_WRITER *writer, const char *name, const char *value)
+{
+   int i;
+
+   i = mxml_start_element(writer, name);
+   i += mxml_write_value(writer, value);
+   i += mxml_end_element(writer);
+   return i;
+}
+
+/*------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
 /**
  * close a file opened with mxml_open_writer
  */
diff --git a/mxml.h b/mxml.h
index cbdd39b..3ea0f4f 100755
--- a/mxml.h
+++ b/mxml.h
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ int mxml_start_element(MXML_WRITER *writer, const char *name);
 int mxml_start_element_noindent(MXML_WRITER *writer, const char *name);
 int mxml_end_element(MXML_WRITER *writer); 
 int mxml_write_comment(MXML_WRITER *writer, const char *string);
+int mxml_write_element(MXML_WRITER *writer, const char *name, const char *value);
 int mxml_write_attribute(MXML_WRITER *writer, const char *name, const char *value);
 int mxml_write_value(MXML_WRITER *writer, const char *value);
 int mxml_write_empty_line(MXML_WRITER *writer);