diff --git a/src/agg_font_freetype.cpp b/src/agg_font_freetype.cpp
index 2d72ffc6..e2043c91 100644
--- a/src/agg_font_freetype.cpp
+++ b/src/agg_font_freetype.cpp
@@ -583,6 +583,11 @@ namespace agg
         return (m_cur_face ? m_cur_face->height : -1);
     }
 
+    int font_engine_freetype_base::face_units_em() const
+    {
+        return (m_cur_face ? m_cur_face->units_per_EM : -1);
+    }
+
     //------------------------------------------------------------------------
     double font_engine_freetype_base::ascender() const
     {
diff --git a/src/agg_font_freetype.h b/src/agg_font_freetype.h
index d7b3e580..6d83999f 100644
--- a/src/agg_font_freetype.h
+++ b/src/agg_font_freetype.h
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ namespace agg
         double      ascender()     const;
         double      descender()    const;
         int         face_height()  const;
+        int         face_units_em()const;
         bool        hinting()      const { return m_hinting;    }
         bool        flip_y()       const { return m_flip_y;     }