diff --git a/python/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.sip b/python/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.sip
index 5663a7a5bdd..c49502cf0cf 100644
--- a/python/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.sip
+++ b/python/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.sip
@@ -141,9 +141,17 @@ class QgsExpressionBuilderWidget : QWidget
 
     bool isExpressionValid();
 
-    void saveToRecent( const QString& key );
+    /**
+     * Adds the current expression to the given collection.
+     * By default it is saved to the collection "generic".
+     */
+    void saveToRecent( const QString& collection = "generic" );
 
-    void loadRecent( const QString& key );
+    /**
+     * Loads the recent expressions from the given collection.
+     * By default it is loaded from the collection "generic".
+     */
+    void loadRecent( const QString& collection = "generic" );
 
     /** Create a new file in the function editor
      */
diff --git a/src/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.cpp b/src/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.cpp
index 0f6c07c08da..f3aa094d24e 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.cpp
@@ -399,10 +399,10 @@ bool QgsExpressionBuilderWidget::isExpressionValid()
   return mExpressionValid;
 }
 
-void QgsExpressionBuilderWidget::saveToRecent( const QString& key )
+void QgsExpressionBuilderWidget::saveToRecent( const QString& collection )
 {
   QSettings settings;
-  QString location = QString( "/expressions/recent/%1" ).arg( key );
+  QString location = QString( "/expressions/recent/%1" ).arg( collection );
   QStringList expressions = settings.value( location ).toStringList();
   expressions.removeAll( this->expressionText() );
 
@@ -414,13 +414,13 @@ void QgsExpressionBuilderWidget::saveToRecent( const QString& key )
   }
 
   settings.setValue( location, expressions );
-  this->loadRecent( key );
+  this->loadRecent( collection );
 }
 
-void QgsExpressionBuilderWidget::loadRecent( const QString& key )
+void QgsExpressionBuilderWidget::loadRecent( const QString& collection )
 {
-  mRecentKey = key;
-  QString name = tr( "Recent (%1)" ).arg( key );
+  mRecentKey = collection;
+  QString name = tr( "Recent (%1)" ).arg( collection );
   if ( mExpressionGroups.contains( name ) )
   {
     QgsExpressionItem* node = mExpressionGroups.value( name );
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ void QgsExpressionBuilderWidget::loadRecent( const QString& key )
   }
 
   QSettings settings;
-  QString location = QString( "/expressions/recent/%1" ).arg( key );
+  QString location = QString( "/expressions/recent/%1" ).arg( collection );
   QStringList expressions = settings.value( location ).toStringList();
   int i = 0;
   Q_FOREACH ( const QString& expression, expressions )
diff --git a/src/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.h b/src/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.h
index 03089589595..7ea188b0830 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.h
+++ b/src/gui/qgsexpressionbuilderwidget.h
@@ -186,9 +186,17 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsExpressionBuilderWidget : public QWidget, private Ui::QgsExp
 
     bool isExpressionValid();
 
-    void saveToRecent( const QString& key );
+    /**
+     * Adds the current expression to the given collection.
+     * By default it is saved to the collection "generic".
+     */
+    void saveToRecent( const QString& collection = "generic" );
 
-    void loadRecent( const QString& key );
+    /**
+     * Loads the recent expressions from the given collection.
+     * By default it is loaded from the collection "generic".
+     */
+    void loadRecent( const QString& collection = "generic" );
 
     /** Create a new file in the function editor
      */