diff --git a/ebean-api/src/main/java/io/ebean/BeanState.java b/ebean-api/src/main/java/io/ebean/BeanState.java
index da8c24d81..daf163cc7 100644
--- a/ebean-api/src/main/java/io/ebean/BeanState.java
+++ b/ebean-api/src/main/java/io/ebean/BeanState.java
@@ -118,4 +118,9 @@ public interface BeanState {
    */
   @Nullable
   Map<String, Exception> getLoadErrors();
+
+  /**
+   * Return the sort order value for an order column.
+   */
+  int getSortOrder();
 }
diff --git a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultBeanState.java b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultBeanState.java
index 332b4fc0d..5bedf1355 100644
--- a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultBeanState.java
+++ b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultBeanState.java
@@ -94,4 +94,8 @@ public final class DefaultBeanState implements BeanState {
     return intercept.getLoadErrors();
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public int getSortOrder() {
+    return intercept.getSortOrder();
+  }
 }