diff --git a/src/rec/mbboRecord.c b/src/rec/mbboRecord.c
index cbd0eaafb..efda5de3d 100644
--- a/src/rec/mbboRecord.c
+++ b/src/rec/mbboRecord.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ static long init_record();
 static long process();
 static long special();
 #define get_value NULL
-#define cvt_dbaddr NULL
+static long cvt_dbaddr();
 #define get_array_info NULL
 #define put_array_info NULL
 #define get_units NULL
@@ -276,6 +276,24 @@ static long special(paddr,after)
     }
 }
 
+static long cvt_dbaddr(paddr)
+    struct dbAddr *paddr;
+{
+    struct mbboRecord *pmbbo=(struct mbboRecord *)paddr->precord;
+    int index;
+
+    index = dbGetFieldIndex(paddr);
+    if(index!=mbboRecordVAL) {
+        recGblDbaddrError(S_db_badField,paddr,"mbbo: cvt_dbaddr");
+        return(0);
+    }
+    if(!pmbbo->sdef)  {
+        paddr->field_type = DBF_USHORT;
+        paddr->dbr_field_type = DBF_USHORT;
+    }
+    return(0);
+}
+
 static long get_enum_str(paddr,pstring)
     struct dbAddr *paddr;
     char	  *pstring;
diff --git a/src/rec/mbboRecord.dbd b/src/rec/mbboRecord.dbd
index 849045344..7316b795c 100644
--- a/src/rec/mbboRecord.dbd
+++ b/src/rec/mbboRecord.dbd
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ recordtype(mbbo) {
 	field(VAL,DBF_ENUM) {
 		prompt("Desired Value")
                 promptgroup(GUI_OUTPUT)
+		special(SPC_DBADDR)
 		asl(ASL0)
 		pp(TRUE)
 	}