diff --git a/src/pymodaq_gui/managers/action_manager.py b/src/pymodaq_gui/managers/action_manager.py
index 16ba2eb5..846fc75c 100644
--- a/src/pymodaq_gui/managers/action_manager.py
+++ b/src/pymodaq_gui/managers/action_manager.py
@@ -433,6 +433,20 @@ def add_menu(self, short_name: str, title: str, menu: QtWidgets.QMenu = None,
 
         return new_menu
 
+    def reference_toolbar(self, short_name: str, toolbar: QtWidgets.QToolBar):
+        """ Add an existing toolbar to the list of managed toolbars"""
+        if short_name not in self._toolbars:
+            self._toolbars[short_name] = toolbar
+        else:
+            raise KeyError(f'Toolbar {short_name} is already existing')
+
+    def reference_menu(self, short_name: str, menu: QtWidgets.QMenu):
+        """ Add an existing toolbar to the list of managed toolbars"""
+        if short_name not in self._menus:
+            self._menus[short_name] = menu
+        else:
+            raise KeyError(f'Menu {short_name} is already existing')
+
     def add_toolbar(self, short_name: str, title: str = '', parent: QtWidgets.QWidget = None) -> QtWidgets.QToolBar:
         """Create and add a toolbar
 
diff --git a/src/pymodaq_gui/utils/custom_app.py b/src/pymodaq_gui/utils/custom_app.py
index 0375ea1b..8df13786 100644
--- a/src/pymodaq_gui/utils/custom_app.py
+++ b/src/pymodaq_gui/utils/custom_app.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ def __init__(self, parent: Union[DockArea, QtWidgets.QMainWindow, QtWidgets.QWid
             self.mainwindow.addToolBar(self._toolbar)
             self._menubar = self.mainwindow.menuBar()
             self.statusbar = self.mainwindow.statusBar()
+            self.reference_toolbar('main', self._toolbar)
 
 
     def setup_ui(self):