diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/AnnotationDriver.php b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/AnnotationDriver.php
index 3953eb0dd..ee7db54ac 100644
--- a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/AnnotationDriver.php
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/AnnotationDriver.php
@@ -97,6 +97,16 @@ class AnnotationDriver implements Driver
         return $this->_paths;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Retrieve the current annotation reader
+     * 
+     * @return AnnotationReader
+     */
+    public function getReader()
+    {
+        return $this->_reader;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Get the file extension used to look for mapping files under
      *