diff --git a/include/opendht/crypto.h b/include/opendht/crypto.h
index 59a9eb23ef5ab1b0276abd4bb1062c43341a21a4..c4e2ba293cda7d344548c4fc84a3660f4069f521 100644
--- a/include/opendht/crypto.h
+++ b/include/opendht/crypto.h
@@ -399,6 +399,13 @@ struct OPENDHT_PUBLIC Certificate {
 
     static Certificate generate(const PrivateKey& key, const std::string& name = "dhtnode", Identity ca = {}, bool is_ca = false);
 
+    gnutls_x509_crt_t getRawCopy() const {
+        auto copy = Certificate(getPacked());
+        gnutls_x509_crt_t ret = copy.cert;
+        copy.cert = nullptr;
+        return ret;
+    }
+
     gnutls_x509_crt_t cert {};
     std::shared_ptr<Certificate> issuer {};
 private: