diff --git a/src/engine/qofinstance.c b/src/engine/qofinstance.c
index ba30ffd09d..991af526b2 100644
--- a/src/engine/qofinstance.c
+++ b/src/engine/qofinstance.c
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@ qof_instance_get_slots (QofInstance *inst)
   return inst->kvp_data;
 }
 
+gboolean
+qof_instance_is_dirty (QofInstance *inst)
+{
+  if (!inst) return FALSE;
+  return inst->dirty;
+}
+
 /* ========================================================== */
 
 void
diff --git a/src/engine/qofinstance.h b/src/engine/qofinstance.h
index 683fb83083..338211372f 100644
--- a/src/engine/qofinstance.h
+++ b/src/engine/qofinstance.h
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ const GUID * qof_instance_get_guid (QofInstance *);
 /** return the pointer to the kvp_data */
 KvpFrame* qof_instance_get_slots (QofInstance *);
 
+/** return value of is_dirty flag */
+gboolean qof_instance_is_dirty (QofInstance *);
+
 /** pair things up. Currently, this routine only inserts a
  * pair of guid-pointers pointing to each other.  it
  * doesn't copy any data.