diff --git a/include/gui/ISurfaceTexture.h b/include/gui/ISurfaceTexture.h
index 77d37f1..168310c 100644
--- a/include/gui/ISurfaceTexture.h
+++ b/include/gui/ISurfaceTexture.h
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@
 
     virtual status_t setCrop(const Rect& reg) = 0;
     virtual status_t setTransform(uint32_t transform) = 0;
+
+    // getAllocator retrieves the binder object that must be referenced as long
+    // as the GraphicBuffers dequeued from this ISurfaceTexture are referenced.
+    // Holding this binder reference prevents SurfaceFlinger from freeing the
+    // buffers before the client is done with them.
+    virtual sp<IBinder> getAllocator() = 0;
 };
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------