diff --git a/include/CppLinuxSerial/SerialPort.hpp b/include/CppLinuxSerial/SerialPort.hpp
index 62eb88e..3d7d3f0 100644
--- a/include/CppLinuxSerial/SerialPort.hpp
+++ b/include/CppLinuxSerial/SerialPort.hpp
@@ -173,6 +173,10 @@ namespace mn {
             /// \throws		CppLinuxSerial::Exception if state != OPEN.
             int32_t Available();
 
+            /// \brief          Use to get the state of the serial port
+            /// \returns        The state of the serial port
+            State getState();
+
         private:
 
             /// \brief		Configures the tty device as a serial port.
diff --git a/src/SerialPort.cpp b/src/SerialPort.cpp
index bf168e8..e9b9a17 100644
--- a/src/SerialPort.cpp
+++ b/src/SerialPort.cpp
@@ -638,6 +638,9 @@ namespace CppLinuxSerial {
         return ret;
         
     }
+    State SerialPort::getState() {
+      return state_;
+    }
 
 } // namespace CppLinuxSerial
 } // namespace mn