diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/ITemplate.cs b/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/ITemplate.cs
index 2014ac9837..7fb4eac4cf 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/ITemplate.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/ITemplate.cs
@@ -10,5 +10,11 @@
         /// </summary>
         /// <returns><see cref="RenderingEngine"/></returns>
         RenderingEngine GetTypeOfRenderingEngine();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Set the mastertemplate
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="masterTemplate"></param>
+        void SetMasterTemplate(ITemplate masterTemplate);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/Template.cs b/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/Template.cs
index dc56700386..0b38c19a51 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/Template.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Core/Models/Template.cs
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Models
         }
         
         [DataMember]
-        public Lazy<int> MasterTemplateId { get; set; }
+        internal Lazy<int> MasterTemplateId { get; set; }
 
         [DataMember]
         internal string MasterTemplateAlias
@@ -183,5 +183,11 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Models
             if (Key == Guid.Empty)
                 Key = Guid.NewGuid();
         }
+
+
+        public void SetMasterTemplate(ITemplate masterTemplate)
+        {
+            MasterTemplateId = new Lazy<int>(() => {return masterTemplate.Id});
+        }
     }
 }