diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.test.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.test.ts
index f979a7def0..4b652298f1 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.test.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { createExtensionDataRef } from './createExtensionDataRef';
+import {
+  ExtensionDataValue,
+  createExtensionDataRef,
+} from './createExtensionDataRef';
 
 describe('createExtensionDataRef', () => {
   it('can be created and read', () => {
@@ -34,4 +37,18 @@ describe('createExtensionDataRef', () => {
     expect(refOptional.id).toBe('foo');
     expect(String(refOptional)).toBe('ExtensionDataRef{id=foo,optional=true}');
   });
+
+  it('can be used to encapsulate a value', () => {
+    const ref = createExtensionDataRef<string>().with({ id: 'foo' });
+    const val: ExtensionDataValue<string, 'foo'> = ref('hello');
+    expect(val).toEqual({
+      $$type: '@backstage/ExtensionDataValue',
+      id: 'foo',
+      value: 'hello',
+    });
+    // @ts-expect-error
+    ref(3);
+    // @ts-expect-error
+    ref();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts
index a1c7b462f2..7e0ff7587e 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts
@@ -14,29 +14,37 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
+/** @public */
+export type ExtensionDataValue<TData, TId extends string> = {
+  readonly $$type: '@backstage/ExtensionDataValue';
+  readonly id: TId;
+  readonly value: TData;
+};
+
 /** @public */
 export type ExtensionDataRef<
   TData,
   TId extends string = string,
   TConfig extends { optional?: true } = {},
 > = {
-  id: TId;
-  T: TData;
-  config: TConfig;
-  $$type: '@backstage/ExtensionDataRef';
+  readonly $$type: '@backstage/ExtensionDataRef';
+  readonly id: TId;
+  readonly T: TData;
+  readonly config: TConfig;
 };
 
 /** @public */
 export interface ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<
-  TId extends string,
   TData,
+  TId extends string,
   TConfig extends { optional?: true } = {},
 > extends ExtensionDataRef<TData, TId, TConfig> {
   optional(): ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<
-    TId,
     TData,
+    TId,
     TData & { optional: true }
   >;
+  (t: TData): ExtensionDataValue<TData, TId>;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -45,36 +53,43 @@ export interface ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<
  */
 export function createExtensionDataRef<TData>(
   id: string,
-): ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<string, TData>;
+): ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, string>;
 /** @public */
 export function createExtensionDataRef<TData>(): {
   with<TId extends string>(options: {
     id: TId;
-  }): ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TId, TData>;
+  }): ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, TId>;
 };
 export function createExtensionDataRef<TData>(id?: string):
-  | ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<string, TData>
+  | ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, string>
   | {
       with<TId extends string>(options: {
         id: TId;
-      }): ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TId, TData>;
+      }): ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, TId>;
     } {
   const createRef = <TId extends string>(refId: TId) =>
-    ({
-      id: refId,
-      $$type: '@backstage/ExtensionDataRef',
-      config: {},
-      optional() {
-        return {
-          ...this,
-          config: { ...this.config, optional: true },
-        };
-      },
-      toString() {
-        const optional = Boolean(this.config.optional);
-        return `ExtensionDataRef{id=${refId},optional=${optional}}`;
-      },
-    } as ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TId, TData, { optional?: true }>);
+    Object.assign(
+      (value: TData): ExtensionDataValue<TData, TId> => ({
+        $$type: '@backstage/ExtensionDataValue',
+        id: refId,
+        value,
+      }),
+      {
+        id: refId,
+        $$type: '@backstage/ExtensionDataRef',
+        config: {},
+        optional() {
+          return {
+            ...this,
+            config: { ...this.config, optional: true },
+          };
+        },
+        toString() {
+          const optional = Boolean(this.config.optional);
+          return `ExtensionDataRef{id=${refId},optional=${optional}}`;
+        },
+      } as ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, TId, { optional?: true }>,
+    );
   if (id) {
     return createRef(id);
   }