diff --git a/lib/isc/include/isc/socket.h b/lib/isc/include/isc/socket.h
index 482390df33..d854f7c4ab 100644
--- a/lib/isc/include/isc/socket.h
+++ b/lib/isc/include/isc/socket.h
@@ -121,8 +121,8 @@ typedef struct isc_socket_connev {
 #define ISC_SOCKEVENT_INTR	(ISC_EVENTCLASS_SOCKET + 261)
 
 typedef enum {
-	isc_socket_udp,
-	isc_socket_tcp
+	isc_socket_udp = 1,
+	isc_socket_tcp = 2
 } isc_sockettype_t;
 
 /*
@@ -597,6 +597,16 @@ isc_socketmgr_destroy(isc_socketmgr_t **managerp);
  *	All resources used by the manager have been freed.
  */
 
+isc_sockettype_t
+isc_socket_gettype(isc_socket_t *sock);
+/*
+ * Returns the socket type for "sock."
+ *
+ * Requires:
+ *
+ *	"sock" is a valid socket.
+ */
+
 ISC_LANG_ENDDECLS
 
 #endif /* ISC_SOCKET_H */
diff --git a/lib/isc/unix/socket.c b/lib/isc/unix/socket.c
index 8f1ed174bf..3c26e504e3 100644
--- a/lib/isc/unix/socket.c
+++ b/lib/isc/unix/socket.c
@@ -2823,3 +2823,11 @@ isc_socket_sendmark(isc_socket_t *sock,
 
 	return (ISC_R_SUCCESS);
 }
+
+isc_sockettype_t
+isc_socket_gettype(isc_socket_t *sock)
+{
+	REQUIRE(VALID_SOCKET(sock));
+
+	return (sock->type);
+}