diff --git a/src/core/netif.c b/src/core/netif.c
index 4e1dcfcd..477a12f6 100644
--- a/src/core/netif.c
+++ b/src/core/netif.c
@@ -143,6 +143,14 @@ static err_t netif_loop_output_ipv6(struct netif *netif, struct pbuf *p, const i
 
 static struct netif loop_netif;
 
+#if LWIP_TESTMODE
+struct netif* netif_get_loopif(void)
+{
+  return &loop_netif;
+}
+#endif
+
+
 /**
  * Initialize a lwip network interface structure for a loopback interface
  *
diff --git a/src/include/lwip/netif.h b/src/include/lwip/netif.h
index 013a69b5..8333c6ba 100644
--- a/src/include/lwip/netif.h
+++ b/src/include/lwip/netif.h
@@ -674,6 +674,11 @@ void netif_invoke_ext_callback(struct netif* netif, netif_nsc_reason_t reason, c
 #define netif_invoke_ext_callback(netif, reason, args)
 #endif
 
+#if LWIP_TESTMODE && LWIP_HAVE_LOOPIF
+struct netif* netif_get_loopif(void);
+#endif
+
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif