diff --git a/lib/net/http/response.rb b/lib/net/http/response.rb
index 66132985d9..9e6e98f86d 100644
--- a/lib/net/http/response.rb
+++ b/lib/net/http/response.rb
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ def initialize(httpv, code, msg)   #:nodoc: internal use only
   # Accept-Encoding header from the user.
   attr_accessor :decode_content
 
+  # The underlying IO socket used when streaming response bodies. Note
+  # that reading from the socket directly will mean the response will
+  # *not* contain a (meaningful) body.
+  attr_reader :socket
+
   def inspect
     "#<#{self.class} #{@code} #{@message} readbody=#{@read}>"
   end