diff --git a/ph_rando/shuffler/_util.py b/ph_rando/shuffler/_util.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..33d65274
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ph_rando/shuffler/_util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import random
+import string
+
+
+def generate_random_seed() -> str:
+    # TODO: make this more robust
+    return ''.join(random.choices(string.ascii_letters, k=20))
diff --git a/ph_rando/ui/cli.py b/ph_rando/ui/cli.py
index 0f72afff..d0cd762b 100644
--- a/ph_rando/ui/cli.py
+++ b/ph_rando/ui/cli.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import json
 import logging
 from pathlib import Path
-import random
-import string
 
 import click
 
@@ -10,6 +8,7 @@
 from ph_rando.patcher._patcher import Patcher
 from ph_rando.shuffler._shuffler import Shuffler
 from ph_rando.shuffler._spoiler_log import generate_spoiler_log
+from ph_rando.shuffler._util import generate_random_seed
 
 
 @click.command()
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ def randomizer_cli(
 
     # Generate random seed if one isn't provided
     if seed is None:
-        seed = ''.join(random.choices(string.ascii_letters, k=20))
+        seed = generate_random_seed()
 
     # Run the shuffler
     shuffled_aux_data = Shuffler(seed, settings).generate()
diff --git a/ph_rando/ui/gui.py b/ph_rando/ui/gui.py
index 39d027b1..42dbcdc1 100644
--- a/ph_rando/ui/gui.py
+++ b/ph_rando/ui/gui.py
@@ -19,14 +19,19 @@
 import inflection
 
 from ph_rando.common import RANDOMIZER_SETTINGS
+from ph_rando.shuffler._util import generate_random_seed
 
 
 class RandomizerUi(QWidget):
-    rom_path: Path
+    rom_path: Path | None
+    seed: str | None
 
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         super().__init__()
 
+        self.rom_path = None
+        self.seed = None
+
         self.setWindowTitle('Phantom Hourglass Randomizer')
         layout = QFormLayout()
         self.setLayout(layout)
@@ -35,7 +40,7 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
         self.render_settings()
         self.render_bottom_panel()
 
-    def _get_rom_file_select_widget(self) -> None:
+    def _get_rom_file_select_widget(self) -> QWidget:
         rom_input_widget = QWidget()
         hbox = QHBoxLayout()
         rom_input_widget.setLayout(hbox)
@@ -62,24 +67,40 @@ def on_rom_path_change(path: str) -> None:
 
         return rom_input_widget
 
+    def _get_seed_widget(self) -> QWidget:
+        seed_widget = QWidget()
+        hbox = QHBoxLayout()
+        seed_widget.setLayout(hbox)
+        seed = QLineEdit()
+        hbox.addWidget(QLabel('Seed'))
+        hbox.addWidget(seed)
+
+        gen_seed_button = QPushButton(text='Random Seed')
+        hbox.addWidget(gen_seed_button)
+
+        def on_random_seed_click() -> None:
+            self.seed = generate_random_seed()
+            seed.setText(self.seed)
+
+        def on_seed_change(value: str) -> None:
+            self.seed = value
+            seed.setText(value)
+
+        gen_seed_button.clicked.connect(on_random_seed_click)
+        seed.textChanged.connect(on_seed_change)
+
+        return seed_widget
+
     def render_file_open_ui(self) -> None:
         layout = self.layout()
+
         groupbox = QGroupBox('ROM Selection')
         layout.addWidget(groupbox)
         vbox = QVBoxLayout()
         groupbox.setLayout(vbox)
 
         vbox.addWidget(self._get_rom_file_select_widget())
-
-        seed_input_widget = QWidget()
-        vbox.addWidget(seed_input_widget)
-        hbox = QHBoxLayout()
-        seed_input_widget.setLayout(hbox)
-        seed = QLineEdit()
-        gen_seed_button = QPushButton(text='Random Seed')
-        hbox.addWidget(QLabel('Seed'))
-        hbox.addWidget(seed)
-        hbox.addWidget(gen_seed_button)
+        vbox.addWidget(self._get_seed_widget())
 
     def render_settings(self) -> None:
         groupbox = QGroupBox('Randomizer Settings')