diff --git a/grum/dictlist/dictlistitem.py b/grum/dictlist/dictlistitem.py
index 9e860d1..476c809 100644
--- a/grum/dictlist/dictlistitem.py
+++ b/grum/dictlist/dictlistitem.py
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ from ..theme import DOT_PEN, DOT_BRUSH, DOT_SIZE
 
 class DictListItem(QListWidgetItem):
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+    def __init__(self, key, value, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(key, *args, **kwargs)
+        self.key = key
+        self.value = value
         self.set_alarm(False)
 
 
diff --git a/grum/dictlist/dictlistwidget.py b/grum/dictlist/dictlistwidget.py
index 39f2a8d..7f680cf 100644
--- a/grum/dictlist/dictlistwidget.py
+++ b/grum/dictlist/dictlistwidget.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from collections import defaultdict
 from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QListWidget
 
@@ -7,33 +6,34 @@ from .dictlistitem import DictListItem
 
 class DictListWidget(QListWidget):
 
-    def __init__(self, data, *args, factory=list, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, *args, factory=list, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        self.data = defaultdict(factory)
-        self.update(data)
+        self.factory = factory
+        self.items = {}
 
     def update(self, data):
         for k, v in data.items():
             self.add(k, v)
 
     def add(self, key, value):
-        self.prepend_item_if_missing(key)
-        self.data[key] = value
+        self.prepend_item_if_missing(key, value)
+        self.items[key].value = value
 
-    def append(self, key, value):
-        self.prepend_item_if_missing(key)
-        self.data[key].append(value)
+    def append(self, key, entry):
+        self.prepend_item_if_missing(key, self.factory())
+        self.items[key].value.append(entry)
 
-    def prepend_item_if_missing(self, key):
-        if key not in self.data:
-            itm = DictListItem(key)
+    def prepend_item_if_missing(self, key, value):
+        if key not in self.items:
+            itm = DictListItem(key, value)
+            self.items[key] = itm
             self.prependItem(itm)
 
     def prependItem(self, itm):
         self.insertItem(0, itm)
 
     def get(self, key):
-        return self.findItems(key, Qt.MatchExactly)[0]
+        return self.items[key]
 
 
 
diff --git a/grum/mainwin.py b/grum/mainwin.py
index d026925..e9e2add 100644
--- a/grum/mainwin.py
+++ b/grum/mainwin.py
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.setWindowTitle(title)
         self.setWindowIcon(assets.icon())
 
-        self.lst = lst = DictListWidget(exampledata, factory=PlotDescription)
+        self.lst = lst = DictListWidget(factory=PlotDescription)
+        lst.update(exampledata)
         lst.setAlternatingRowColors(True)
         lst.itemDoubleClicked.connect(self.on_select_list_item)
 
@@ -49,21 +50,18 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
 
     def append_data(self, name, point):
         self.lst.append(name, point)
+        item = self.lst.get(name)
         sub = self.mdi.findSubWindow(name)
         if sub:
-            desc = self.lst.data[name]
-            sub.plot.setData(*desc.data)
+            sub.plot.setData(*item.value.data)
         else:
-            item = self.lst.get(name)
             item.set_alarm(True)
 
 
     def on_select_list_item(self, item):
         item.set_alarm(False)
-
-        name = item.text()
-        desc = self.lst.data[name]
-
+        name = item.key
+        desc = item.value
         sub = self.mdi.findSubWindow(name)
         if sub:
             self.mdi.setActiveSubWindow(sub)