diff --git a/cmd/crates/stellar-ledger/src/lib.rs b/cmd/crates/stellar-ledger/src/lib.rs
index 9226b6a30..1eaede12f 100644
--- a/cmd/crates/stellar-ledger/src/lib.rs
+++ b/cmd/crates/stellar-ledger/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use futures::executor::block_on;
+use hidapi::HidApi;
 use ledger_transport::{APDUCommand, Exchange};
-use ledger_transport_hid::{hidapi::HidError, LedgerHIDError};
+use ledger_transport_hid::{hidapi::HidError, LedgerHIDError, TransportNativeHID};
 use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
 
 use soroban_env_host::xdr::{Hash, Transaction};
@@ -378,6 +379,12 @@ fn hd_path_to_bytes(hd_path: &slip10::BIP32Path) -> Result<Vec<u8>, LedgerError>
     Ok(result.into_iter().flatten().collect())
 }
 
+pub fn get_transport() -> Result<impl Exchange, LedgerError> {
+    // instantiate the connection to Ledger, this will return an error if Ledger is not connected
+    let hidapi = HidApi::new().map_err(LedgerError::HidApiError)?;
+    TransportNativeHID::new(&hidapi).map_err(LedgerError::LedgerHidError)
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use std::str::FromStr;