diff --git a/include/cppkafka/kafka_handle_base.h b/include/cppkafka/kafka_handle_base.h
index 71462c2..142bd90 100644
--- a/include/cppkafka/kafka_handle_base.h
+++ b/include/cppkafka/kafka_handle_base.h
@@ -166,6 +166,13 @@ public:
      * Gets the handle's configuration
      */ 
     const Configuration& get_configuration() const;
+
+    /**
+     * \brief Gets the length of the out queue 
+     *
+     * This calls rd_kafka_outq_len
+     */
+    int get_out_queue_length() const;
 protected:
     KafkaHandleBase(Configuration config);
 
diff --git a/src/kafka_handle_base.cpp b/src/kafka_handle_base.cpp
index 627b2dd..77de735 100644
--- a/src/kafka_handle_base.cpp
+++ b/src/kafka_handle_base.cpp
@@ -131,6 +131,10 @@ const Configuration& KafkaHandleBase::get_configuration() const {
     return config_;
 }
 
+int KafkaHandleBase::get_out_queue_length() const {
+    return rd_kafka_outq_len(handle_.get());
+}
+
 void KafkaHandleBase::set_handle(rd_kafka_t* handle) {
     handle_ = HandlePtr(handle, &rd_kafka_destroy);
 }