diff --git a/lib/oga/xml/element.rb b/lib/oga/xml/element.rb
index 13cdb50..f4aebec 100644
--- a/lib/oga/xml/element.rb
+++ b/lib/oga/xml/element.rb
@@ -145,6 +145,19 @@ module Oga
         return nodes
       end
 
+      ##
+      # Sets the inner text of the current element to the given String.
+      #
+      # @param [String] text
+      #
+      def inner_text=(text)
+        children.each do |child|
+          child.remove if child.is_a?(Text)
+        end
+
+        children << XML::Text.new(:text => text)
+      end
+
       ##
       # Converts the element and its child elements to XML.
       #
diff --git a/spec/oga/xml/element_spec.rb b/spec/oga/xml/element_spec.rb
index 764e710..ae46c48 100644
--- a/spec/oga/xml/element_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/oga/xml/element_spec.rb
@@ -151,6 +151,24 @@ describe Oga::XML::Element do
     end
   end
 
+  context '#inner_text=' do
+    before do
+      @element = described_class.new
+    end
+
+    example 'set the inner text of an element' do
+      @element.inner_text = 'foo'
+      @element.inner_text.should == 'foo'
+    end
+
+    example 'remove existing text nodes before inserting new nodes' do
+      @element.children << Oga::XML::Text.new(:text => 'foo')
+
+      @element.inner_text = 'bar'
+      @element.inner_text.should == 'bar'
+    end
+  end
+
   context '#text_nodes' do
     before do
       @t1     = Oga::XML::Text.new(:text => 'Foo')