diff --git a/include/binder/MemoryDealer.h b/include/binder/MemoryDealer.h
index aa415d5..60a624c 100644
--- a/include/binder/MemoryDealer.h
+++ b/include/binder/MemoryDealer.h
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@
     virtual void        deallocate(size_t offset);
     virtual void        dump(const char* what) const;
 
+    // allocations are aligned to some value. return that value so clients can account for it.
+    static size_t      getAllocationAlignment();
+
     sp<IMemoryHeap> getMemoryHeap() const { return heap(); }
 
 protected: