diff --git a/sim_timer.c b/sim_timer.c
index 7754d3f0..990cac99 100644
--- a/sim_timer.c
+++ b/sim_timer.c
@@ -2188,6 +2188,17 @@ sim_debug (DBG_GET, &sim_timer_dev, "sim_rtcn_get_time(tmr=%d)\n", tmr);
 clock_gettime (CLOCK_REALTIME, now);
 }
 
+time_t sim_get_time (time_t *now)
+{
+struct timespec ts_now;
+
+sim_debug (DBG_GET, &sim_timer_dev, "sim_get_time()\n");
+sim_rtcn_get_time (&ts_now, 0);
+if (now)
+    *now = ts_now.tv_sec;
+return ts_now.tv_sec;
+}
+
 /* 
  * If the host system has a relatively large clock tick (as compared to
  * the desired simulated hz) ticks will naturally be scheduled late and
diff --git a/sim_timer.h b/sim_timer.h
index cf537718..6f811fcf 100644
--- a/sim_timer.h
+++ b/sim_timer.h
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ int32 sim_rtcn_init (int32 time, int32 tmr);
 int32 sim_rtcn_init_unit (UNIT *uptr, int32 time, int32 tmr);
 int32 sim_rtcn_init_unit_ticks (UNIT *uptr, int32 time, int32 tmr, int32 ticksper);
 void sim_rtcn_get_time (struct timespec *now, int tmr);
+time_t sim_get_time (time_t *now);
 t_stat sim_rtcn_tick_ack (uint32 time, int32 tmr);
 void sim_rtcn_init_all (void);
 int32 sim_rtcn_calb (uint32 ticksper, int32 tmr);