diff --git a/advlabdb/advlabdb_independent_funs.py b/advlabdb/advlabdb_independent_funs.py
index bc16d3f..5a4b5de 100644
--- a/advlabdb/advlabdb_independent_funs.py
+++ b/advlabdb/advlabdb_independent_funs.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Functions not dependent on advlabdb
 
 from flask import flash
+from markupsafe import Markup
 
 
 def flashRandomPassword(password):
@@ -15,3 +16,11 @@ def parse_bool(str):
         return True
     else:
         raise ValueError(f'Can not parse a bool from "{str}"')
+
+
+def missing_formatter(view, context, model, name):
+    attr = getattr(model, name)
+    if attr is None:
+        return Markup("<span style='color:red'>MISSING</span>")
+
+    return attr