diff --git a/src/ORM/Association.php b/src/ORM/Association.php
index 0732b911b49..102503c18df 100644
--- a/src/ORM/Association.php
+++ b/src/ORM/Association.php
@@ -260,6 +260,16 @@ public function cascadeCallbacks($cascadeCallbacks = null)
         return $this->_cascadeCallbacks;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The class name of the target table object
+     *
+     * @return string
+     */
+    public function className()
+    {
+        return $this->_className;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Sets the table instance for the source side of the association. If no arguments
      * are passed, the current configured table instance is returned