diff --git a/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessmanager.cpp b/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessmanager.cpp
index 397bb0535e..7f1f819436 100644
--- a/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessmanager.cpp
@@ -849,6 +849,17 @@ QNetworkAccessManager::NetworkAccessibility QNetworkAccessManager::networkAccess
     }
 }
 
+/*!
+    \internal
+
+    Returns the network session currently in use.
+    This can be changed at any time, ownership remains with the QNetworkAccessManager
+*/
+const QWeakPointer<const QNetworkSession> QNetworkAccessManagerPrivate::getNetworkSession(const QNetworkAccessManager *q)
+{
+    return q->d_func()->networkSession.toWeakRef();
+}
+
 #endif // QT_NO_BEARERMANAGEMENT
 
 /*!
diff --git a/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessmanager_p.h b/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessmanager_p.h
index b0bcaabacc..8d62e78902 100644
--- a/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessmanager_p.h
+++ b/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessmanager_p.h
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ public:
     static inline QNetworkAccessCache *getObjectCache(QNetworkAccessBackend *backend)
     { return &backend->manager->objectCache; }
     Q_AUTOTEST_EXPORT static void clearCache(QNetworkAccessManager *manager);
+    Q_AUTOTEST_EXPORT static const QWeakPointer<const QNetworkSession> getNetworkSession(const QNetworkAccessManager *manager);
 
     Q_DECLARE_PUBLIC(QNetworkAccessManager)
 };