diff --git a/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/include/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/memory_tools/memory_tools_service.hpp b/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/include/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/memory_tools/memory_tools_service.hpp
index f28670b..594e95d 100644
--- a/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/include/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/memory_tools/memory_tools_service.hpp
+++ b/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/include/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/memory_tools/memory_tools_service.hpp
@@ -93,6 +93,11 @@ struct MemoryToolsService
   void
   print_backtrace();
 
+  /// Returns a backtrace stream for logging.
+  OSRF_TESTING_TOOLS_CPP_MEMORY_TOOLS_PUBLIC
+  std::ostringstream
+  get_backtrace();
+
   /// Returns a stack trace object for introspection.
   /**
    * Pointer should not be used after MemoryToolsService is out of scope.
diff --git a/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/src/memory_tools/memory_tools_service.cpp b/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/src/memory_tools/memory_tools_service.cpp
index 5984a5c..fd3c560 100644
--- a/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/src/memory_tools/memory_tools_service.cpp
+++ b/osrf_testing_tools_cpp/src/memory_tools/memory_tools_service.cpp
@@ -93,6 +93,22 @@ MemoryToolsService::print_backtrace()
   impl_->should_print_backtrace = true;
 }
 
+
+std::ostringstream
+MemoryToolsService::get_backtrace()
+{
+  std::ostringstream oss;
+#if !defined(_WIN32) && !defined(__ANDROID__)
+  backward::StackTrace st;
+  st.load_here(256);
+  backward::Printer p;
+  p.print(st, oss);
+#else
+  oss << "backtrace unavailable on Windows and Android\n";
+#endif  // !defined(_WIN32) && !defined(__ANDROID__)
+  return oss;
+}
+
 StackTrace *
 MemoryToolsService::get_stack_trace()
 {