diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/indexer/FileEncodingRegistry.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/indexer/FileEncodingRegistry.java
index 5bb71551283..f5dbb40b252 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/indexer/FileEncodingRegistry.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/indexer/FileEncodingRegistry.java
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ public class FileEncodingRegistry implements Serializable {
 		defaultEncoding = newDefaultEncoding;
 
 	}
+	
+	public String getDefaultEncoding() {
+		return defaultEncoding;
+	}
+
 
 	public void registerFileEncoding(String filename, String encoding) {
 		if(defaultEncoding.equals(encoding)){