diff --git a/src/controls/QskComboBox.cpp b/src/controls/QskComboBox.cpp
index 84f1cc69..6aaea92a 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskComboBox.cpp
+++ b/src/controls/QskComboBox.cpp
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ namespace
 class QskComboBox::PrivateData
 {
   public:
-    QPointer < QskPopup > menu;
+    QPointer < QskMenu > menu;
 
     QVector< Option > options;
     QString placeholderText;
@@ -244,6 +244,12 @@ QString QskComboBox::currentText() const
 
 void QskComboBox::openPopup()
 {
+    /*
+        maybe we should implement an alternative implementation
+        using a QskSelectionDialog, that could be en/disabled
+        by setting a mode TODO ...
+     */
+
     if ( m_data->menu )
         return;
 
@@ -261,6 +267,9 @@ void QskComboBox::openPopup()
     for ( const auto& option : m_data->options )
         menu->addOption( option.graphic, option.text );
 
+    connect( menu, &QskMenu::currentIndexChanged,
+        this, &QskComboBox::indexInPopupChanged );
+
     connect( menu, &QskMenu::triggered,
         this, &QskComboBox::setCurrentIndex );
 
@@ -408,4 +417,12 @@ int QskComboBox::count() const
     return m_data->options.count();
 }
 
+int QskComboBox::indexInPopup() const
+{
+    if ( m_data->menu )
+        return m_data->menu->currentIndex();
+
+    return -1;
+}
+
 #include "moc_QskComboBox.cpp"
diff --git a/src/controls/QskComboBox.h b/src/controls/QskComboBox.h
index 92bf38e4..eadb8f9a 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskComboBox.h
+++ b/src/controls/QskComboBox.h
@@ -17,13 +17,17 @@ class QSK_EXPORT QskComboBox : public QskControl
     Q_PROPERTY( int currentIndex READ currentIndex
         WRITE setCurrentIndex NOTIFY currentIndexChanged )
 
-    Q_PROPERTY( QString currentText READ currentText )
+    Q_PROPERTY( QString currentText READ currentText
+        NOTIFY currentIndexChanged )
 
     Q_PROPERTY( int count READ count NOTIFY countChanged )
 
     Q_PROPERTY( QString placeholderText READ placeholderText
         WRITE setPlaceholderText NOTIFY placeholderTextChanged )
 
+    Q_PROPERTY( int indexInPopup READ indexInPopup
+        NOTIFY indexInPopupChanged )
+
     using Inherited = QskControl;
 
   public:
@@ -52,6 +56,9 @@ class QSK_EXPORT QskComboBox : public QskControl
     int currentIndex() const;
     QString currentText() const;
 
+    // "highlightedIndex" ( see Qt's combo boxes ) is not very intuitive
+    virtual int indexInPopup() const;
+
     int count() const;
     QVariantList optionAt( int ) const;
     QString textAt( int ) const;
@@ -64,6 +71,7 @@ class QSK_EXPORT QskComboBox : public QskControl
 
   Q_SIGNALS:
     void currentIndexChanged( int );
+    void indexInPopupChanged( int );
 
     void countChanged( int );
     void placeholderTextChanged( const QString& );
@@ -77,6 +85,10 @@ class QSK_EXPORT QskComboBox : public QskControl
 
     void wheelEvent( QWheelEvent* ) override;
 
+    /*
+        open/close a menu - needs to be overloaded when using a custom popup
+        don't forget to modify indexInPopup/indexInPopupChanged as well
+     */
     virtual void openPopup();
     virtual void closePopup();