diff --git a/tiramisu/basetype.py b/tiramisu/basetype.py
index 3f8e0c7..a607028 100644
--- a/tiramisu/basetype.py
+++ b/tiramisu/basetype.py
@@ -22,21 +22,23 @@
 # ____________________________________________________________
 
 class HiddenBaseType(object):
-    hidden = False
     def hide(self):
-        self.hidden = True
+        if not 'hidden' in self.properties:
+            self.properties.append('hidden')
     def show(self):
-        self.hidden = False
+        if 'hidden' in self.properties:
+            self.properties.remove('hidden')
     def _is_hidden(self):
-        # dangerous method: how an Option can determine its status by itself ? 
-        return self.hidden
+        # dangerous method: how an Option() can determine its status by itself ? 
+        return 'hidden' in self.properties
 
 class DisabledBaseType(object):
-    disabled = False   
     def disable(self):
-        self.disabled = True
+        if not 'disabled' in self.properties:
+            self.properties.append('disabled')
     def enable(self):
-        self.disabled = False
+        if 'disabled' in self.properties:
+            self.properties.remove('disabled')
     def _is_disabled(self):
-        return self.disabled
+        return 'disabled' in self.properties
 
diff --git a/tiramisu/config.py b/tiramisu/config.py
index d9db3b2..dadd74a 100644
--- a/tiramisu/config.py
+++ b/tiramisu/config.py
@@ -22,11 +22,10 @@
 # ____________________________________________________________
 from copy import copy
 from tiramisu.error import (HiddenOptionError, ConfigError, NotFoundError, 
-                AmbigousOptionError, ConflictConfigError, NoMatchingOptionFound, 
-                            SpecialOwnersError, MandatoryError, MethodCallError, 
-                                           DisabledOptionError)
-from tiramisu.option import (OptionDescription, Option, SymLinkOption, group_types, 
-                    Multi, apply_requires)
+    AmbigousOptionError, ConflictConfigError, NoMatchingOptionFound, 
+    SpecialOwnersError, MandatoryError, MethodCallError, DisabledOptionError)
+from tiramisu.option import (OptionDescription, Option, SymLinkOption, 
+    group_types, Multi, apply_requires)
 from tiramisu.autolib import special_owners, special_owner_factory
 # ______________________________________________________________________
 # generic owner. 'default' is the general config owner after init time
diff --git a/tiramisu/option.py b/tiramisu/option.py
index ea2b59b..8a84b5f 100644
--- a/tiramisu/option.py
+++ b/tiramisu/option.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 from tiramisu.autolib import special_owners
 from tiramisu.basetype import HiddenBaseType, DisabledBaseType
 from tiramisu.error import (ConfigError, ConflictConfigError, NotFoundError, 
-                   SpecialOwnersError, RequiresError, RequirementRecursionError)
+    SpecialOwnersError, RequiresError, RequirementRecursionError)
 available_actions = ['hide', 'show', 'enable', 'disable'] 
 reverse_actions = {'hide': 'show', 'show': 'hide', 
                    'disable':'enable', 'enable': 'disable'}
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ class Option(HiddenBaseType, DisabledBaseType):
                 raise ConfigError("invalid default value {0} " 
                                          "for option {1}".format(str(default), name))
         self.default = default
+        self.properties = [] # 'hidden', 'disabled'...
         
     def validate(self, value):
         if self.multi == False:
@@ -371,7 +372,6 @@ class ArbitraryOption(Option):
         return self.default
 
 class OptionDescription(HiddenBaseType, DisabledBaseType):
-    group_type = 'default'
     
     def __init__(self, name, doc, children, requires=None):
         self._name = name
@@ -379,7 +379,9 @@ class OptionDescription(HiddenBaseType, DisabledBaseType):
         self._children = children
         self._requires = requires
         self._build()
-    
+        self.properties = [] # 'hidden', 'disabled'...
+        self.group_type = 'default'
+
     def getdoc(self):
         return self.doc