diff --git a/src/utils/gcal-utils.c b/src/utils/gcal-utils.c
index 2456a079..f2124fb1 100644
--- a/src/utils/gcal-utils.c
+++ b/src/utils/gcal-utils.c
@@ -1449,3 +1449,44 @@ gcal_get_email_from_mailto_uri (const gchar *mailto_uri)
 
   return address;
 }
+
+/**
+ * gcal_create_activate_signal_shortcuts:
+ * @widget_class: the class to add the bindings to
+ * @widget_type: the type this signal pertains to
+ *
+ * Adds activate signal and shortcuts to the desired widget during class instantiation.
+ *
+ * The primary use case is for custom widgets desiring to have activation functionality.
+ *
+ * Returns: the signal ID
+ */
+guint
+gcal_create_activate_signal_and_shortcuts (GtkWidgetClass *widget_class,
+                                           GType           widget_type)
+{
+  const guint activate_keyvals[] = {
+    GDK_KEY_space,
+    GDK_KEY_KP_Space,
+    GDK_KEY_Return,
+    GDK_KEY_ISO_Enter,
+    GDK_KEY_KP_Enter,
+  };
+
+  guint signal_id =
+    g_signal_new ("activate",
+                  widget_type,
+                  G_SIGNAL_RUN_FIRST | G_SIGNAL_ACTION,
+                  0,
+                  NULL, NULL,
+                  g_cclosure_marshal_VOID__VOID,
+                  G_TYPE_NONE,
+                  0);
+
+  gtk_widget_class_set_activate_signal (widget_class, signal_id);
+
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS (activate_keyvals); i++)
+    gtk_widget_class_add_binding_signal (widget_class, activate_keyvals[i], 0, "activate", NULL);
+
+  return signal_id;
+}
diff --git a/src/utils/gcal-utils.h b/src/utils/gcal-utils.h
index 7f66aa8a..41243eba 100644
--- a/src/utils/gcal-utils.h
+++ b/src/utils/gcal-utils.h
@@ -141,4 +141,7 @@ SoupSession *        gcal_create_soup_session                    (void);
 GListModel *         gcal_create_writable_calendars_model        (GcalManager        *manager);
 
 const gchar *        gcal_get_email_from_mailto_uri              (const gchar        *mailto_uri);
+
+guint                gcal_create_activate_signal_and_shortcuts   (GtkWidgetClass *widget_class,
+                                                                  GType           widget_type);
 #endif /* __GCAL_UTILS_H__ */