diff --git a/library/Zend/Form/Element.php b/library/Zend/Form/Element.php
index a5466e4319e..a0083793f48 100644
--- a/library/Zend/Form/Element.php
+++ b/library/Zend/Form/Element.php
@@ -117,6 +117,16 @@ public function setOptions($options)
         return $this;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * get defined options
+     *
+     * @return array()
+     */
+    public function getOptions()
+    {
+        return $this->options;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Set a single element attribute
      *