diff --git a/addons/mail/wizard/mail_compose_message.py b/addons/mail/wizard/mail_compose_message.py
index 301dff515b3..16cfc99c513 100644
--- a/addons/mail/wizard/mail_compose_message.py
+++ b/addons/mail/wizard/mail_compose_message.py
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ class mail_compose_message(osv.TransientModel):
             'mail_compose_message_ir_attachments_rel',
             'wizard_id', 'attachment_id', 'Attachments'),
         'filter_id': fields.many2one('ir.filters', 'Filters'),
+        'body': fields.text('Contents'),
     }
 
     _defaults = {
diff --git a/addons/mail/wizard/mail_compose_message_view.xml b/addons/mail/wizard/mail_compose_message_view.xml
index 00ba33a6d6f..73c16713718 100644
--- a/addons/mail/wizard/mail_compose_message_view.xml
+++ b/addons/mail/wizard/mail_compose_message_view.xml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
                         </div>
                         <field name="subject" placeholder="Subject..."/>
                     </group>
-                    <field name="body"/>
+                    <field name="body" widget='html'/>
                     <field name="attachment_ids" widget="many2many_binary"/>
                     <footer>
                         <button string="Send" name="send_mail" type="object" class="oe_highlight"/>