diff --git a/include/realtime_tools/realtime_publisher.hpp b/include/realtime_tools/realtime_publisher.hpp
index 3ac1eb06..d1e9731e 100644
--- a/include/realtime_tools/realtime_publisher.hpp
+++ b/include/realtime_tools/realtime_publisher.hpp
@@ -182,6 +182,10 @@ class RealtimePublisher
 #endif
   }
 
+  std::thread & get_thread() { return thread_; }
+
+  const std::thread & get_thread() const { return thread_; }
+
 private:
   // non-copyable
   RealtimePublisher(const RealtimePublisher &) = delete;