diff --git a/lib/isc/counter.c b/lib/isc/counter.c
index 452ca10663..5cfac452f7 100644
--- a/lib/isc/counter.c
+++ b/lib/isc/counter.c
@@ -80,6 +80,13 @@ isc_counter_setlimit(isc_counter_t *counter, int limit) {
 	atomic_store(&counter->limit, limit);
 }
 
+int
+isc_counter_getlimit(isc_counter_t *counter) {
+	REQUIRE(VALID_COUNTER(counter));
+
+	return atomic_load_acquire(&counter->limit);
+}
+
 void
 isc_counter_attach(isc_counter_t *source, isc_counter_t **targetp) {
 	REQUIRE(VALID_COUNTER(source));
diff --git a/lib/isc/include/isc/counter.h b/lib/isc/include/isc/counter.h
index 820e4a2f65..30ae273ae0 100644
--- a/lib/isc/include/isc/counter.h
+++ b/lib/isc/include/isc/counter.h
@@ -68,6 +68,12 @@ isc_counter_setlimit(isc_counter_t *counter, int limit);
  * Set the counter limit.
  */
 
+int
+isc_counter_getlimit(isc_counter_t *counter);
+/*%<
+ * Get the counter limit.
+ */
+
 void
 isc_counter_attach(isc_counter_t *source, isc_counter_t **targetp);
 /*%<