diff --git a/src/Val.cc b/src/Val.cc
index 32d64c5cdd..08de37121c 100644
--- a/src/Val.cc
+++ b/src/Val.cc
@@ -713,6 +713,12 @@ StringVal::StringVal(const string& s) : Val(TYPE_STRING)
 	val.string_val = new BroString(reinterpret_cast<const u_char*>(s.data()), s.length(), 1);
 	}
 
+string StringVal::ToStdString() const
+	{
+	auto* bs = AsString();
+	return string((char*)bs->Bytes(), bs->Len());
+	}
+
 StringVal* StringVal::ToUpper()
 	{
 	val.string_val->ToUpper();
diff --git a/src/Val.h b/src/Val.h
index 2ce61100b5..8e909f1a0c 100644
--- a/src/Val.h
+++ b/src/Val.h
@@ -632,6 +632,7 @@ public:
 	// char* ExpandedString(int format = BroString::EXPANDED_STRING)
 	// 	{ return AsString()->ExpandedString(format); }
 
+	std::string ToStdString() const;
 	StringVal* ToUpper();
 
 	unsigned int MemoryAllocation() const override;