diff --git a/include/osg/AnimationPath b/include/osg/AnimationPath
index 62803356a..96814443e 100644
--- a/include/osg/AnimationPath
+++ b/include/osg/AnimationPath
@@ -232,6 +232,10 @@ class SG_EXPORT AnimationPathCallback : public NodeCallback
 
         void setPause(bool pause);
 
+        /** get the animation time that is used to specify the position along the AnimationPath.
+          * Animation time is computed from the formula ((_latestTime-_firstTime)-_timeOffset)*_timeMultiplier.*/
+        double getAnimationTime() const;
+
         /** implements the callback*/
         virtual void operator()(Node* node, NodeVisitor* nv);
         
diff --git a/src/osg/AnimationPath.cpp b/src/osg/AnimationPath.cpp
index 0f3a8ccf2..0360749cd 100644
--- a/src/osg/AnimationPath.cpp
+++ b/src/osg/AnimationPath.cpp
@@ -168,12 +168,15 @@ void AnimationPathCallback::operator()(Node* node, NodeVisitor* nv)
     NodeCallback::traverse(node,nv);
 }
 
+double AnimationPathCallback::getAnimationTime() const
+{
+    return ((_latestTime-_firstTime)-_timeOffset)*_timeMultiplier;
+}
+
 void AnimationPathCallback::update(osg::Node& node)
 {
-    double animationTime = ((_latestTime-_firstTime)-_timeOffset)*_timeMultiplier;
-
     AnimationPath::ControlPoint cp;
-    if (_animationPath->getInterpolatedControlPoint(animationTime,cp))
+    if (_animationPath->getInterpolatedControlPoint(getAnimationTime(),cp))
     {
         AnimationPathCallbackVisitor apcv(cp,_useInverseMatrix);
         node.accept(apcv);