diff --git a/boost-dbus/include/dbus/impl/message_iterator.hpp b/boost-dbus/include/dbus/impl/message_iterator.hpp
index 44bcf2e..6969b8b 100644
--- a/boost-dbus/include/dbus/impl/message_iterator.hpp
+++ b/boost-dbus/include/dbus/impl/message_iterator.hpp
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@
 
   bool next();
   bool has_next();
-  int get_arg_type();
+  char get_arg_type();
+  int get_element_count();
 
   void get_basic(void *value);
 
diff --git a/boost-dbus/include/dbus/impl/message_iterator.ipp b/boost-dbus/include/dbus/impl/message_iterator.ipp
index eb2584f..034f658 100644
--- a/boost-dbus/include/dbus/impl/message_iterator.ipp
+++ b/boost-dbus/include/dbus/impl/message_iterator.ipp
@@ -58,7 +58,12 @@
   return dbus_message_iter_has_next(&DBusMessageIter_);
 }
 
-inline int message_iterator::get_arg_type()
+inline int message_iterator::get_element_count()
+{
+  return dbus_message_iter_get_element_count(&DBusMessageIter_);
+}
+
+inline char message_iterator::get_arg_type()
 {
   return dbus_message_iter_get_arg_type(&DBusMessageIter_);
 }