diff --git a/libs/pbd/pbd/event_loop.h b/libs/pbd/pbd/event_loop.h
index 09265c13d8..2b661a7e35 100644
--- a/libs/pbd/pbd/event_loop.h
+++ b/libs/pbd/pbd/event_loop.h
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ public:
 		void ref ()    { g_atomic_int_inc (&_ref); }
 		void unref ()  { g_atomic_int_dec_and_test (&_ref); }
 		bool in_use () { return g_atomic_int_get (&_ref) > 0; }
+		int  use_count () { return g_atomic_int_get (&_ref); }
 	};
 
 	static void* invalidate_request (void* data);