diff --git a/src/core/model/test.cc b/src/core/model/test.cc
index b8ae8e95d..6e90544ea 100644
--- a/src/core/model/test.cc
+++ b/src/core/model/test.cc
@@ -256,6 +256,12 @@ TestCase::GetName (void) const
   NS_LOG_FUNCTION (this);
   return m_name;
 }
+TestCase *
+TestCase::GetParent () const
+{
+  return m_parent;
+}
+
 void
 TestCase::ReportTestFailure (std::string cond, std::string actual, 
                              std::string limit, std::string message, 
diff --git a/src/core/model/test.h b/src/core/model/test.h
index ee30513d8..a10b1a268 100644
--- a/src/core/model/test.h
+++ b/src/core/model/test.h
@@ -864,6 +864,11 @@ public:
    */
   virtual ~TestCase ();
 
+  /**
+   * \return name of this test
+   */
+  std::string GetName (void) const;  
+
 protected:
   /**
    * \param name the name of the new TestCase created
@@ -917,9 +922,9 @@ protected:
   bool IsStatusSuccess (void) const;
 
   /**
-   * \return name of this test
+   * \return a pointer to the parent of this test
    */
-  std::string GetName (void) const;
+  TestCase * GetParent () const;
   
   // The methods below are used only by test macros and should not
   // be used by normal users.