my $rb1 = $mw->Radiobutton(-text => "Button One", -value => 'button1', -variable => \$rb, -command => [ \&blacken, '$entry1'])->pack; my $rb2 = $mw->Radiobutton(-text => "Button Two", -value => 'button2', -variable => \$rb, -command => [ \&blacken, '$entry2'])->pack; sub blacken { my $entry = shift; $entry->configure(-backround => 'black'); #maybe you want #$entry->configure(-state => 'disabled') }