diff --git a/src/models/event.ts b/src/models/event.ts
index 9050f4440..922490363 100644
--- a/src/models/event.ts
+++ b/src/models/event.ts
@@ -262,6 +262,15 @@ export class MatrixEvent extends EventEmitter {
         this.localTimestamp = Date.now() - this.getAge();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Gets the clear event as it would be received over the wire. If the event
+     * is not encrypted, this simply returns the event as-is.
+     * @returns {Partial<IEvent>} The clear event, as known by the SDK.
+     */
+    public getClearEvent(): Partial<IEvent> {
+        return this.clearEvent ?? this.event;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Get the event_id for this event.
      * @return {string} The event ID, e.g. <code>$143350589368169JsLZx:localhost