diff --git a/src/face.hpp b/src/face.hpp
index 61d872f..a757061 100644
--- a/src/face.hpp
+++ b/src/face.hpp
@@ -197,6 +197,9 @@
    */
   void 
   shutdown();
+
+  shared_ptr<boost::asio::io_service> 
+  ioService() { return node_.ioService(); }
   
 private:
   Node node_;