diff --git a/src/encode.rs b/src/encode.rs
index 8a3053f..3475283 100644
--- a/src/encode.rs
+++ b/src/encode.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ impl<R: Read, W: Write> Encoder<R, W> {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn output(self) -> W {
+        self.writer
+    }
+
     pub fn encode(&mut self) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let mut total: usize = 0;
         loop {