diff --git a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledPatch/sampledPatch.H b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledPatch/sampledPatch.H
index a6afdbe612..91385e7bca 100644
--- a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledPatch/sampledPatch.H
+++ b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledPatch/sampledPatch.H
@@ -146,6 +146,11 @@ protected:
             return patchStart_;
         }
 
+        const labelList& patchIndex() const
+        {
+            return patchIndex_;
+        }
+
         const labelList& patchFaceLabels() const
         {
             return patchFaceLabels_;