diff --git a/include/trick/MonteVarRandom.hh b/include/trick/MonteVarRandom.hh
index 33aaf550..12867c45 100644
--- a/include/trick/MonteVarRandom.hh
+++ b/include/trick/MonteVarRandom.hh
@@ -185,6 +185,13 @@ namespace Trick {
          */
         double get_absolute_max() const { return (randist.rel_max) ? (randist.mu + randist.max) : randist.max; }
 
+        /**
+         * gets the random distribution
+         *
+         * @return the random distribution
+         */
+        const TRICK_GSL_RANDIST& get_random_distribution();
+
         // Describes the properties of this variable.
         std::string describe_variable();
 
diff --git a/trick_source/sim_services/MonteCarlo/MonteVarRandom.cpp b/trick_source/sim_services/MonteCarlo/MonteVarRandom.cpp
index 398b28b7..861b350a 100644
--- a/trick_source/sim_services/MonteCarlo/MonteVarRandom.cpp
+++ b/trick_source/sim_services/MonteCarlo/MonteVarRandom.cpp
@@ -240,3 +240,7 @@ Trick::MonteVarRandom::updateStlRandom() {
         }
     }
 }
+
+const TRICK_GSL_RANDIST& Trick::MonteVarRandom::get_random_distribution() {
+    return randist;
+}