diff --git a/superscore/type_hints.py b/superscore/type_hints.py
index 75ff074..15d52eb 100644
--- a/superscore/type_hints.py
+++ b/superscore/type_hints.py
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-from typing import Dict, Protocol, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Dict, Protocol, Union
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from superscore.model import Entry
+    from superscore.widgets.core import DataWidget
 
 AnyEpicsType = Union[int, str, float, bool]
 
@@ -8,3 +12,6 @@ class AnyDataclass(Protocol):
     Protocol stub shamelessly lifted from stackoverflow to hint at dataclass
     """
     __dataclass_fields__: Dict
+
+
+OpenPageSlot = Callable[["Entry"], "DataWidget"]
diff --git a/superscore/widgets/page/collection_builder.py b/superscore/widgets/page/collection_builder.py
index 6b9b261..4d115c1 100644
--- a/superscore/widgets/page/collection_builder.py
+++ b/superscore/widgets/page/collection_builder.py
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import logging
-from typing import Callable, Optional
+from typing import Optional
 
 from qtpy import QtCore, QtWidgets
 from qtpy.QtGui import QCloseEvent
 
 from superscore.client import Client
 from superscore.model import Collection, Entry, Parameter
+from superscore.type_hints import OpenPageSlot
 from superscore.widgets.core import DataWidget, Display, NameDescTagsWidget
 from superscore.widgets.enhanced import FilterComboBox
 from superscore.widgets.manip_helpers import insert_widget
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ def __init__(
         *args,
         client: Client,
         data: Optional[Collection] = None,
-        open_page_slot: Optional[Callable] = None,
+        open_page_slot: Optional[OpenPageSlot] = None,
         **kwargs
     ):
         if data is None:
diff --git a/superscore/widgets/page/search.py b/superscore/widgets/page/search.py
index 2b73bb0..7b80ac8 100644
--- a/superscore/widgets/page/search.py
+++ b/superscore/widgets/page/search.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import logging
 from enum import auto
-from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, List, Optional
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional
 
 import qtawesome as qta
 from dateutil import tz
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from superscore.backends.core import SearchTerm
 from superscore.client import Client
 from superscore.model import Collection, Entry, Readback, Setpoint, Snapshot
+from superscore.type_hints import OpenPageSlot
 from superscore.widgets import ICON_MAP
 from superscore.widgets.core import Display
 from superscore.widgets.views import (BaseTableEntryModel, ButtonDelegate,
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ def __init__(
         self,
         *args,
         client: Client,
-        open_page_slot: Optional[Callable] = None,
+        open_page_slot: Optional[OpenPageSlot] = None,
         **kwargs
     ) -> None:
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -234,7 +235,7 @@ class ResultFilterProxyModel(QtCore.QSortFilterProxyModel):
     def __init__(
         self,
         *args,
-        open_page_slot: Optional[Callable] = None,
+        open_page_slot: Optional[OpenPageSlot] = None,
         **kwargs
     ) -> None:
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/superscore/widgets/views.py b/superscore/widgets/views.py
index 113598b..3ea0607 100644
--- a/superscore/widgets/views.py
+++ b/superscore/widgets/views.py
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 import logging
 import time
 from enum import Enum, IntEnum, auto
-from typing import (Any, Callable, ClassVar, Dict, Generator, List, Optional,
-                    Union)
+from typing import Any, ClassVar, Dict, Generator, List, Optional, Union
 from uuid import UUID
 from weakref import WeakValueDictionary
 
@@ -23,6 +22,7 @@
 from superscore.model import (Collection, Entry, Nestable, Parameter, Readback,
                               Root, Setpoint, Severity, Snapshot, Status)
 from superscore.qt_helpers import QDataclassBridge
+from superscore.type_hints import OpenPageSlot
 from superscore.widgets import ICON_MAP
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -1047,7 +1047,7 @@ def __init__(
         *args,
         client: Optional[Client] = None,
         data: Optional[Union[Entry, List[Entry]]] = None,
-        open_page_slot: Optional[Callable] = None,
+        open_page_slot: Optional[OpenPageSlot] = None,
         **kwargs,
     ) -> None:
         """need to set open_column, close_column in subclass"""
diff --git a/superscore/widgets/window.py b/superscore/widgets/window.py
index b389d75..964c235 100644
--- a/superscore/widgets/window.py
+++ b/superscore/widgets/window.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 from superscore.client import Client
 from superscore.model import Entry
 from superscore.widgets import ICON_MAP
-from superscore.widgets.core import Display
+from superscore.widgets.core import DataWidget, Display
 from superscore.widgets.page import PAGE_MAP
 from superscore.widgets.page.collection_builder import CollectionBuilderPage
 from superscore.widgets.page.search import SearchPage
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def open_collection_builder(self):
         )
         self._partial_slots.append(update_slot)
 
-    def open_page(self, entry: Entry) -> None:
+    def open_page(self, entry: Entry) -> DataWidget:
         """
         Open a page for ``entry`` in a new tab.
 
@@ -95,6 +95,11 @@ def open_page(self, entry: Entry) -> None:
         ----------
         entry : Entry
             Entry subclass to open a new page for
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        DataWidget
+            Created widget, for cross references
         """
         logger.debug(f'attempting to open {entry}')
         if not isinstance(entry, Entry):
@@ -119,6 +124,8 @@ def open_page(self, entry: Entry) -> None:
         idx = self.tab_widget.addTab(page_widget, icon, tab_name)
         self.tab_widget.setCurrentIndex(idx)
 
+        return page_widget
+
     def open_search_page(self) -> None:
         page = SearchPage(client=self.client, open_page_slot=self.open_page)
         self.tab_widget.addTab(page, 'search')