diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/pixbuf.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/pixbuf.h
index 31efb1c1ef..0da7e4e7ea 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas/pixbuf.h
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas/pixbuf.h
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+#ifndef __CANVAS_PIXBUF__
+#define __CANVAS_PIXBUF__
+
 #include <glibmm/refptr.h>
 
 #include "canvas/item.h"
@@ -20,8 +23,14 @@ public:
 
 	void set (Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf>);
 
+	/* returns the reference to the internal private pixbuf
+	 * after changing data in the pixbuf a call to set()
+	 * is mandatory to update the data on screen */
+	Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf> pixbuf();
+
 private:
 	Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf> _pixbuf;
 };
 
 }
+#endif
diff --git a/libs/canvas/pixbuf.cc b/libs/canvas/pixbuf.cc
index e576003b57..ccb42fdf74 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/pixbuf.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/pixbuf.cc
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ Pixbuf::set (Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf> pixbuf)
 	end_change ();
 }
 
+Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf>
+Pixbuf::pixbuf() {
+	return _pixbuf;
+}
+
 XMLNode *
 Pixbuf::get_state () const
 {