diff --git modules/line_item/commerce_line_item.module modules/line_item/commerce_line_item.module
index 91aeaed..e6befa1 100644
--- modules/line_item/commerce_line_item.module
+++ modules/line_item/commerce_line_item.module
@@ -894,6 +894,17 @@ function commerce_line_item_field_widget_info() {
     ),
   );
 
+  // Define the creation / reference widget for line items.
+  $widgets['commerce_line_item_hidden'] = array(
+    'label' => t('Do not show a widget'),
+    'description' => t('Will not display the line item reference field on forms. Use only if you maintain line item references some other way.'),
+    'field types' => array('commerce_line_item_reference'),
+    'settings' => array(),
+    'behaviors' => array(
+      'multiple values' => FIELD_BEHAVIOR_CUSTOM,
+    ),
+  );
+
   return $widgets;
 }
 
@@ -1044,6 +1055,9 @@ function commerce_line_item_field_widget_form(&$form, &$form_state, $field, $ins
 
     return $element;
   }
+  elseif ($instance['widget']['type'] == 'commerce_line_item_hidden') {
+    return array();
+  }
 }
 
 /**