diff --git a/modules/juce_data_structures/values/juce_ValueTree.cpp b/modules/juce_data_structures/values/juce_ValueTree.cpp
index f776224986..d46ebfe3ad 100644
--- a/modules/juce_data_structures/values/juce_ValueTree.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_data_structures/values/juce_ValueTree.cpp
@@ -789,6 +789,11 @@ void ValueTree::copyPropertiesFrom (const ValueTree& source, UndoManager* const
         object->copyPropertiesFrom (*(source.object), undoManager);
 }
 
+int ValueTree::getReferenceCount() const noexcept
+{
+    return object != nullptr ? object->getReferenceCount() : 0;
+}
+
 //==============================================================================
 class ValueTreePropertyValueSource  : public Value::ValueSource,
                                       private ValueTree::Listener
diff --git a/modules/juce_data_structures/values/juce_ValueTree.h b/modules/juce_data_structures/values/juce_ValueTree.h
index 311d722f31..1e37e0cfd3 100644
--- a/modules/juce_data_structures/values/juce_ValueTree.h
+++ b/modules/juce_data_structures/values/juce_ValueTree.h
@@ -490,6 +490,11 @@ public:
     */
     static const ValueTree invalid;
 
+    /** Returns the total number of references to the shared underlying data structure that this
+        ValueTree is using.
+    */
+    int getReferenceCount() const noexcept;
+
 private:
     //==============================================================================
     JUCE_PUBLIC_IN_DLL_BUILD (class SharedObject)