diff --git a/src/hb-buffer.c b/src/hb-buffer.c
index d2ec33d..3c6fd7c 100644
--- a/src/hb-buffer.c
+++ b/src/hb-buffer.c
@@ -166,6 +166,15 @@
   buffer->in_length++;
 }
 
+void
+hb_buffer_set_direction (hb_buffer_t    *buffer,
+			 hb_direction_t  direction)
+
+{
+  buffer->direction = direction;
+}
+
+
 /* HarfBuzz-Internal API */
 
 HB_INTERNAL void