diff --git a/ompi/group/group.h b/ompi/group/group.h
index 411ed2539c..c2c00a38dd 100644
--- a/ompi/group/group.h
+++ b/ompi/group/group.h
@@ -135,6 +135,19 @@ static inline int ompi_group_rank(ompi_group_t *group)
 }
 
 
+static inline struct ompi_proc_t* ompi_group_peer_lookup(ompi_group_t *group, int peer_id)
+{
+#if OMPI_ENABLE_DEBUG
+    if (peer_id >= group->grp_proc_count) {
+        opal_output(0, "ompi_group_lookup_peer: invalid peer index (%d)", peer_id);
+        return (struct ompi_proc_t *) NULL;
+    }
+#endif
+    return group->grp_proc_pointers[peer_id];
+}
+
+
+
 /**
  * Set group rank in the input group structure
  *