diff --git a/aixml/include/aixml/node.h b/aixml/include/aixml/node.h
index fcf99e760adb290e1527eabe2bde48986517f639..441a3e4abbcdfdcb3d5e690976d87b26449dc7bd 100644
--- a/aixml/include/aixml/node.h
+++ b/aixml/include/aixml/node.h
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ class AIXMLDLLEXPORT node {
   std::string name;
 
   auto getChildren() const -> const std::vector<node*>& { return children; }
+  auto getParent() const -> const node* { return parent; }
 
  private:
   std::map<std::string, std::string> attributes;