diff --git a/src/agg_font_freetype.cpp b/src/agg_font_freetype.cpp
index dc45f807..2d72ffc6 100644
--- a/src/agg_font_freetype.cpp
+++ b/src/agg_font_freetype.cpp
@@ -577,6 +577,11 @@ namespace agg
         return -1;
     }
 
+    //------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    int font_engine_freetype_base::face_height() const
+    {
+        return (m_cur_face ? m_cur_face->height : -1);
+    }
 
     //------------------------------------------------------------------------
     double font_engine_freetype_base::ascender() const
diff --git a/src/agg_font_freetype.h b/src/agg_font_freetype.h
index 273243c3..d7b3e580 100644
--- a/src/agg_font_freetype.h
+++ b/src/agg_font_freetype.h
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ namespace agg
         double      width()        const { return double(m_width) / 64.0;     }
         double      ascender()     const;
         double      descender()    const;
+        int         face_height()  const;
         bool        hinting()      const { return m_hinting;    }
         bool        flip_y()       const { return m_flip_y;     }