diff --git a/dune/istl/bcrsmatrix.hh b/dune/istl/bcrsmatrix.hh
index 786e2c009f59cb829bab66404ffd74dea1370901..fe63abeaab622c5ce7fa5bd26e853452b4f2c257 100644
--- a/dune/istl/bcrsmatrix.hh
+++ b/dune/istl/bcrsmatrix.hh
@@ -1845,6 +1845,12 @@ namespace Dune {
       return ready;
     }
 
+    //! The currently selected build mode of the matrix.
+    BuildMode buildMode() const
+    {
+      return build_mode;
+    }
+
     //===== query
 
     //! return true if (i,j) is in pattern