diff --git a/source3/include/ctdbd_conn.h b/source3/include/ctdbd_conn.h
index 71516c73a67..c5ba5724cd4 100644
--- a/source3/include/ctdbd_conn.h
+++ b/source3/include/ctdbd_conn.h
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ NTSTATUS ctdbd_register_msg_ctx(struct ctdbd_connection *conn,
 				struct messaging_context *msg_ctx);
 struct messaging_context *ctdb_conn_msg_ctx(struct ctdbd_connection *conn);
 
+int ctdbd_conn_get_fd(struct ctdbd_connection *conn);
+
 NTSTATUS ctdbd_messaging_send(struct ctdbd_connection *conn,
 			      uint32 dst_vnn, uint64 dst_srvid,
 			      struct messaging_rec *msg);
diff --git a/source3/lib/ctdbd_conn.c b/source3/lib/ctdbd_conn.c
index 743594d43b2..6b50009e003 100644
--- a/source3/lib/ctdbd_conn.c
+++ b/source3/lib/ctdbd_conn.c
@@ -519,6 +519,11 @@ struct messaging_context *ctdb_conn_msg_ctx(struct ctdbd_connection *conn)
 	return conn->msg_ctx;
 }
 
+int ctdbd_conn_get_fd(struct ctdbd_connection *conn)
+{
+	return packet_get_fd(conn->pkt);
+}
+
 /*
  * Packet handler to receive and handle a ctdb message
  */