diff --git a/src/Val.cc b/src/Val.cc
index bf86360b70..e3574116cc 100644
--- a/src/Val.cc
+++ b/src/Val.cc
@@ -1277,6 +1277,8 @@ FileVal::FileVal(FilePtr f) : Val(make_intrusive<FileType>(base_type(TYPE_STRING
     assert(file_val->GetType()->Tag() == TYPE_STRING);
 }
 
+FilePtr FileVal::AsFilePtr() const { return file_val; }
+
 ValPtr FileVal::SizeVal() const { return make_intrusive<DoubleVal>(file_val->Size()); }
 
 void FileVal::ValDescribe(ODesc* d) const { file_val->Describe(d); }
diff --git a/src/Val.h b/src/Val.h
index a74f68f8d6..1267f602ec 100644
--- a/src/Val.h
+++ b/src/Val.h
@@ -609,6 +609,8 @@ class FileVal final : public Val {
 public:
     explicit FileVal(FilePtr f);
 
+    FilePtr AsFilePtr() const;
+
     ValPtr SizeVal() const override;
 
     File* Get() const { return file_val.get(); }