diff --git a/dune/solvers/common/numproc.hh b/dune/solvers/common/numproc.hh
index ab38666d590b87d203ba858ee6877beec1cb5e95..98dea250134781591676d20fa5a73ce90d5526f4 100644
--- a/dune/solvers/common/numproc.hh
+++ b/dune/solvers/common/numproc.hh
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ class SolverError : public Dune::Exception {};
         /** \brief Set the verbosity level */
         void setVerbosity(VerbosityMode verbosity) {verbosity_ = verbosity;}
 
+        /** \brief Get the verbosity level */
+        const VerbosityMode& getVerbosity() const  {return verbosity_;}
+
+    protected:
         /** \brief Controls the amount of screen output of a numproc */
         VerbosityMode verbosity_;