diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index ca1d24bb..942880b5 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -32,6 +32,13 @@ func (s *DB) DB() *sql.DB {
 	return s.db.(*sql.DB)
 }
 
+// Return the underlying sql.DB or sql.Tx instance.
+// Use of this method is discouraged. It's mainly intended to allow
+// coexistence with legacy non-GORM code.
+func (s *DB) CommonDB() sqlCommon {
+	return s.db
+}
+
 func (s *DB) Callback() *callback {
 	s.parent.callback = s.parent.callback.clone()
 	return s.parent.callback
diff --git a/main_test.go b/main_test.go
index 47611908..32d9ac62 100644
--- a/main_test.go
+++ b/main_test.go
@@ -1542,6 +1542,10 @@ func TestTransaction(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Should find saved record, but got", err)
 	}
 
+        if sql_tx, ok := tx.CommonDB().(*sql.Tx); !ok || sql_tx == nil {
+                t.Errorf("Should return the underlying sql.Tx")
+        }
+
 	tx.Rollback()
 
 	if err := tx.First(&User{}, "name = ?", "transcation").Error; err == nil {