diff --git a/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_main.h b/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_main.h
index 5a118a0ad9..4e6d585ab9 100644
--- a/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_main.h
+++ b/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_main.h
@@ -196,6 +196,8 @@ public:
 
 	bool		_task_should_exit;		/**< if true, mavlink task should exit */
 
+	int get_mavlink_fd() { return _mavlink_fd; }
+
 protected:
 	Mavlink	*next;