diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/IOstreams/Istream.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/IOstreams/Istream.C
index 4717894b79..7adc45a96a 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/IOstreams/Istream.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/IOstreams/Istream.C
@@ -25,35 +25,9 @@ License
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
 #include "Istream.H"
-#include "bool.H"
-#include "token.H"
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-// Set t to the put back token if there is one and return true,
-// otherwise return false
-bool Foam::Istream::getBack(token& t)
-{
-    if (bad())
-    {
-        FatalIOErrorIn("void Istream::getBack(token&)", *this)
-            << "Attempt to get back from bad stream"
-            << exit(FatalIOError);
-
-        return false;
-    }
-    else if (putBack_)
-    {
-        t = putBackToken_;
-        putBack_ = false;
-        return true;
-    }
-
-    return false;
-}
-
-
-// Keep the put back token
 void Foam::Istream::putBack(const token& t)
 {
     if (bad())
@@ -76,6 +50,40 @@ void Foam::Istream::putBack(const token& t)
 }
 
 
+bool Foam::Istream::getBack(token& t)
+{
+    if (bad())
+    {
+        FatalIOErrorIn("void Istream::getBack(token&)", *this)
+            << "Attempt to get back from bad stream"
+            << exit(FatalIOError);
+    }
+    else if (putBack_)
+    {
+        t = putBackToken_;
+        putBack_ = false;
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    return false;
+}
+
+
+bool Foam::Istream::peekBack(token& t)
+{
+    if (putBack_)
+    {
+        t = putBackToken_;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        t = token::undefinedToken;
+    }
+
+    return putBack_;
+}
+
+
 // Functions for reading object delimiters ( ... )
 
 Foam::Istream& Foam::Istream::readBegin(const char* funcName)
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/IOstreams/Istream.H b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/IOstreams/Istream.H
index 701c674b14..cf0f631ccb 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/IOstreams/Istream.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/IOstreams/Istream.H
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class Istream
 {
     // Private data
 
-        //- Has a token been put back on the stream
+        //- Has a token been put back on the stream?
         bool putBack_;
 
         //- The last token put back on the stream
@@ -97,12 +97,19 @@ public:
         // Read functions
 
             //- Put back token
+            //  Only a single put back is permitted
             void putBack(const token&);
 
-            //- Get the put back token
+            //- Get the put back token if there is one and return true.
+            //  Return false if no put back token is available.
             bool getBack(token&);
 
-             //- Return next token from stream
+            //- Peek at the put back token without removing it.
+            //  Returns false if no put back token is available and set the
+            //  token to undefined.
+            bool peekBack(token&);
+
+            //- Return next token from stream
             virtual Istream& read(token&) = 0;
 
             //- Read a character