diff --git a/src/evalfunc.c b/src/evalfunc.c
index ca412f7..eaefccf 100644
--- a/src/evalfunc.c
+++ b/src/evalfunc.c
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
 static void f_atan2(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv);
 #endif
 #ifdef FEAT_BEVAL
+static void f_balloon_gettext(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv);
 static void f_balloon_show(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv);
 # if defined(FEAT_BEVAL_TERM)
 static void f_balloon_split(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv);
@@ -552,6 +553,7 @@
     {"atan2",		2, 2, f_atan2},
 #endif
 #ifdef FEAT_BEVAL
+    {"balloon_gettext",	0, 0, f_balloon_gettext},
     {"balloon_show",	1, 1, f_balloon_show},
 # if defined(FEAT_BEVAL_TERM)
     {"balloon_split",	1, 1, f_balloon_split},
@@ -1764,6 +1766,19 @@
  */
 #ifdef FEAT_BEVAL
     static void
+f_balloon_gettext(typval_T *argvars UNUSED, typval_T *rettv)
+{
+    rettv->v_type = VAR_STRING;
+    if (balloonEval != NULL)
+    {
+	if (balloonEval->msg == NULL)
+	    rettv->vval.v_string = NULL;
+	else
+	    rettv->vval.v_string = vim_strsave(balloonEval->msg);
+    }
+}
+
+    static void
 f_balloon_show(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv UNUSED)
 {
     if (balloonEval != NULL)
@@ -1773,9 +1788,21 @@
 		&& !gui.in_use
 # endif
 	   )
-	    post_balloon(balloonEval, NULL, argvars[0].vval.v_list);
+	{
+	    list_T *l = argvars[0].vval.v_list;
+
+	    // empty list removes the balloon
+	    post_balloon(balloonEval, NULL,
+				       l == NULL || l->lv_len == 0 ? NULL : l);
+	}
 	else
-	    post_balloon(balloonEval, tv_get_string_chk(&argvars[0]), NULL);
+	{
+	    char_u *mesg = tv_get_string_chk(&argvars[0]);
+
+	    if (mesg != NULL)
+		// empty string removes the balloon
+		post_balloon(balloonEval, *mesg == NUL ? NULL : mesg, NULL);
+	}
     }
 }