diff --git a/include/ldap.h b/include/ldap.h
index be0863f260..e0c9e721fb 100644
--- a/include/ldap.h
+++ b/include/ldap.h
@@ -1150,6 +1150,10 @@ ldap_count_messages LDAP_P((
 	LDAP *ld,
 	LDAPMessage *chain ));
 
+LDAP_F( BerElement * )
+get_ldapmsg_ber LDAP_P((
+	LDAPMessage * ));
+
 
 /*
  * in references.c:
diff --git a/libraries/libldap/messages.c b/libraries/libldap/messages.c
index 808a39509b..86c0f172b6 100644
--- a/libraries/libldap/messages.c
+++ b/libraries/libldap/messages.c
@@ -53,3 +53,9 @@ ldap_count_messages( LDAP *ld, LDAPMessage *chain )
 
 	return( i );
 }
+
+BerElement*
+get_ldapmsg_ber( LDAPMessage *ld )
+{
+	return ld->lm_ber;
+}