diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java
index d38a8ffd1..ab0212022 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java
@@ -395,6 +395,24 @@ public class TarEntry implements TarConstants {
         this.mode = mode;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Get this entry's link flag.
+     *
+     * @return This entry's link flag.
+     */
+    public byte getLinkFlag() {
+        return linkFlag;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set this entry's link flag.
+     *
+     * @param link the link flag to use.
+     */
+    public void setLinkFlag(byte linkFlag) {
+        this.linkFlag = linkFlag;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Get this entry's link name.
      *