diff --git a/tailbone/templates/receiving/view_row.mako b/tailbone/templates/receiving/view_row.mako
index bb4275b8..dca71c35 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/receiving/view_row.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/receiving/view_row.mako
@@ -85,8 +85,11 @@
                     ${form.render_field_readonly(product_key_field)}
                     ${form.render_field_readonly('product')}
                 % else:
-                    ${form.render_field_readonly('item_entry')}
                     ${form.render_field_readonly(product_key_field)}
+                    ${form.render_field_readonly('item_entry')}
+                    % if product_key_field != 'upc':
+                        ${form.render_field_readonly('upc')}
+                    % endif
                     ${form.render_field_readonly('brand_name')}
                     ${form.render_field_readonly('description')}
                     ${form.render_field_readonly('size')}
diff --git a/tailbone/views/purchasing/receiving.py b/tailbone/views/purchasing/receiving.py
index af96448f..2fe692f0 100644
--- a/tailbone/views/purchasing/receiving.py
+++ b/tailbone/views/purchasing/receiving.py
@@ -1479,6 +1479,14 @@ class ReceivingBatchView(PurchasingBatchView):
         super(ReceivingBatchView, self).configure_row_form(f)
         batch = self.get_instance()
 
+        # when viewing a row which has no product reference, enable
+        # the 'upc' field to help with troubleshooting
+        # TODO: this maybe should be optional..?
+        if self.viewing and 'upc' not in f:
+            row = self.get_row_instance()
+            if not row.product:
+                f.append('upc')
+
         # allow input for certain fields only; all others are readonly
         mutable = [
             'invoice_unit_cost',