diff --git a/src/Mod/Part/App/Geometry.cpp b/src/Mod/Part/App/Geometry.cpp
index 575a9d49cc..1457e89205 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Part/App/Geometry.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Part/App/Geometry.cpp
@@ -2722,6 +2722,17 @@ Base::Vector3d GeomEllipse::getMajorAxisDir() const
     return Base::Vector3d(xdir.X(), xdir.Y(), xdir.Z());
 }
 
+/*!
+ * \brief GeomEllipse::getMinorAxisDir
+ * \return the direction vector (unit-length) of minor axis of the ellipse.
+ */
+Base::Vector3d GeomEllipse::getMinorAxisDir() const
+{
+    gp_Dir ydir = myCurve->YAxis().Direction();
+    return Base::Vector3d(ydir.X(), ydir.Y(), ydir.Z());
+}
+
+
 /*!
  * \brief GeomEllipse::setMajorAxisDir Rotates the ellipse in its plane, so
  * that its major axis is as close as possible to the provided direction.
diff --git a/src/Mod/Part/App/Geometry.h b/src/Mod/Part/App/Geometry.h
index 24a2f16176..d325a5f027 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Part/App/Geometry.h
+++ b/src/Mod/Part/App/Geometry.h
@@ -538,6 +538,7 @@ public:
     void setMinorRadius(double Radius);
     Base::Vector3d getMajorAxisDir() const;
     void setMajorAxisDir(Base::Vector3d newdir);
+    Base::Vector3d getMinorAxisDir() const;
 
     // Persistence implementer ---------------------
     virtual unsigned int getMemSize(void) const;