diff --git a/app/phrases/phrase_edit.php b/app/phrases/phrase_edit.php
index 7920aab996..d85b7beb41 100644
--- a/app/phrases/phrase_edit.php
+++ b/app/phrases/phrase_edit.php
@@ -342,9 +342,20 @@ if (count($_POST) > 0) {
 
 //javascript constants for use in the selection option group
 	echo "<script>\n";
+	echo "window.permission_execute = " . (permission_exists('phrase_execute') ? 'true' : 'false') . ";\n";
 	echo "window.phrase_label_sounds = '" . ($text['label-sounds'] ?? 'Sounds') . "';\n";
 	echo "window.phrase_label_recordings = '" . ($text['label-recordings'] ?? 'Recordings') . "';\n";
-	echo "window.phrase_commands = " . json_encode([$text['label-play'] ?? 'Play', $text['label-pause'] ?? 'Pause', $text['label-execute'] ?? 'Execute'], true) . ";\n";
+	//only include permissive actions
+	$phrase_commands = [];
+	if (permission_exists('phrase_play')) {
+		$phrase_commands[] = $text['label-play'] ?? 'Play';
+		$phrase_commands[] = $text['label-pause'] ?? 'Pause';
+	}
+
+	if (permission_exists('phrase_execute')) {
+		$phrase_commands[] = $text['label-execute'] ?? 'Execute';
+	}
+	echo "window.phrase_commands = " . json_encode($phrase_commands, true) . ";\n";
 
 	//existing details
 	if (!empty($phrase_details)) {
diff --git a/app/phrases/resources/javascript/phrase_edit.js b/app/phrases/resources/javascript/phrase_edit.js
index 1eafa8ee2f..2b8fbcc856 100644
--- a/app/phrases/resources/javascript/phrase_edit.js
+++ b/app/phrases/resources/javascript/phrase_edit.js
@@ -31,6 +31,44 @@ document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function () {
 	add_draggable_rows();
 });
 
+//
+// Switch to a text input box when 'Execute' is selected instead of dropdown
+//
+function add_switch_to_text_input(select_action) {
+	if (window.permission_execute) {
+		const row = select_action.parentNode.parentNode;
+		const row_index = document.getElementById('structure').rows.length;
+		//get the select boxes
+		const select_list = row.querySelectorAll('td select'); //action and recording select dropdown boxes
+		const select_data = select_list[1];
+
+		// Create a new text input to replace the select when execute is chosen
+		const textInput = document.createElement('input');
+		textInput.type = 'text';
+		textInput.className = 'formfld';
+		textInput.id = 'phrase_detail_data_input[' + row_index + ']';
+		textInput.name = 'phrase_detail_data_input[' + row_index + ']';
+		//match style
+		textInput.style.width = select_data.style.width;
+		textInput.style.height = select_data.style.height;
+		//set to hide
+		textInput.style.display = 'none';
+		select_data.parentNode.appendChild(textInput);
+
+		select_action.addEventListener('change', function () {
+			if (select_action.value === 'execute') {
+				//show text box
+				select_data.style.display = 'none';
+				textInput.style.display = 'block';
+			} else {
+				//hide text box
+				select_data.style.display = 'block';
+				textInput.style.display = 'none';
+			}
+		});
+	}
+}
+
 //
 // Inserts all existing records before the empty one
 //
@@ -47,7 +85,8 @@ function add_existing() {
 		const select_list = newRow.querySelectorAll('td select'); //action and recording select dropdown boxes
 		//play, pause, execute select box
 		const select_action = select_list[0];
-		select_by_text(select_action, 'Play');
+		add_switch_to_text_input(select_action);
+		select_by_value(select_action, 'play-file');
 
 		//recording select box
 		const select_recording = select_list[1];
@@ -181,10 +220,19 @@ function add_row() {
 
 	//reset id
 	newRow.id = 'row_' + index;
-
 	//reset 'name' attribute
 	newRow.setAttribute('name', 'recording_' + index);
 
+	//get the select boxes
+	const select_list = newRow.querySelectorAll('td select'); //action and recording select dropdown boxes
+	//play, pause, execute select box
+	const select_action = select_list[0];
+	//recording select box
+	const select_recording = select_list[1];
+
+	//add switchable select box to text input box
+	add_switch_to_text_input(select_action);
+
 	//add the row to the table body
 	tbody.appendChild(newRow);