diff --git a/python/_re2.cc b/python/_re2.cc
index 22f092b2..9e978f70 100644
--- a/python/_re2.cc
+++ b/python/_re2.cc
@@ -208,21 +208,24 @@ class Filter {
     return index;
   }
 
-  bool Compile() {
-    std::vector<std::string> atoms;
-    filter_.Compile(&atoms);
+  std::vector<std::string> Compile() {
+    atoms_.clear()
+    filter_.Compile(&atoms_);
     RE2::Options options;
     options.set_literal(true);
     options.set_case_sensitive(false);
     set_ = std::make_unique<RE2::Set>(options, RE2::UNANCHORED);
-    for (int i = 0; i < static_cast<int>(atoms.size()); ++i) {
-      if (set_->Add(atoms[i], /*error=*/NULL) != i) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < static_cast<int>(atoms_.size()); ++i) {
+      if (set_->Add(atoms_[i], /*error=*/NULL) != i) {
         // Should never happen: the atom is a literal!
         py::pybind11_fail("set_->Add() failed");
       }
     }
     // Compiling can fail.
-    return set_->Compile();
+    if (!set_->Compile()) {
+      py::pybind11_fail("set_->Compile() failed");
+    };
+    return atoms_
   }
 
   std::vector<int> Match(py::buffer buffer, bool potential) const {
@@ -251,6 +254,7 @@ class Filter {
  private:
   re2::FilteredRE2 filter_;
   std::unique_ptr<RE2::Set> set_;
+  std::vector<std::string> atoms_;
 };
 
 PYBIND11_MODULE(_re2, module) {
diff --git a/python/re2.py b/python/re2.py
index 12c7b10f..3e2e572e 100644
--- a/python/re2.py
+++ b/python/re2.py
@@ -563,8 +563,7 @@ def Add(self, pattern, options=None):
     return index
 
   def Compile(self):
-    if not self._filter.Compile():
-      raise error('failed to compile Filter')
+    return self._filter.Compile()
 
   def Match(self, text, potential=False):
     if isinstance(text, str):
diff --git a/python/re2_test.py b/python/re2_test.py
index 146b55b4..66cdbe8a 100644
--- a/python/re2_test.py
+++ b/python/re2_test.py
@@ -62,6 +62,30 @@ def test_compile_with_options(self):
     with self.assertRaisesRegex(re2.error, 'pattern too large'):
       re2.compile('.{1000}', options=options)
 
+  def test_compile_returns_atoms(self):
+    f = re2.Filter()
+    f.Add('hello.*world')
+    f.Add(r'foo\bar')
+    atoms = f.Compile()
+    self.assertIsInstance(atoms, list)
+    # Atoms are lowercase
+    self.assertIn('hello', atoms)
+    self.assertIn('world', atoms)
+    self.assertIn('foo', atoms)
+    self.assertIn('bar', atoms)
+
+  def test_compile_no_literals(self):
+    f = re2.Filter()
+    f.Add('.*')
+    f.Add('[a-z')
+    atoms = f.Compile()
+    self.assertEqual(atoms, [])
+
+  def test_compile_empty_filter(self):
+    f = re2.Filter()
+    atoms = f.Compile()
+    self.assertEqual(atoms, [])
+
   def test_programsize_reverseprogramsize(self):
     regexp = re2.compile('a+b')
     self.assertEqual(7, regexp.programsize)