diff --git a/src/neonucleus.h b/src/neonucleus.h
index b24e757..5160b2e 100644
--- a/src/neonucleus.h
+++ b/src/neonucleus.h
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ void nn_unsafeDeleteUniverse(nn_universe *universe);
 void *nn_queryUserdata(nn_universe *universe, const char *name);
 void nn_storeUserdata(nn_universe *universe, const char *name, void *data);
 void nn_setClock(nn_universe *universe, nn_clock_t *clock, void *userdata);
+double nn_getTime(nn_universe *universe);
 
 nn_computer *nn_newComputer(nn_universe *universe, nn_address address, nn_architecture *arch, void *userdata, size_t memoryLimit, size_t componentLimit);
 void nn_tickComputer(nn_computer *computer);
diff --git a/src/universe.c b/src/universe.c
index 512f852..17d91fd 100644
--- a/src/universe.c
+++ b/src/universe.c
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ nn_universe *nn_newUniverse() {
     if(u == NULL) return u;
     // we leave udata uninitialized because it does not matter
     u->udataLen = 0;
+    u->clockUserdata = NULL;
+    u->currentClock = nn_realTimeClock;
     return u;
 }
 
@@ -36,3 +38,7 @@ void nn_storeUserdata(nn_universe *universe, const char *name, void *data) {
     universe->udata[idx].userdata = data;
     universe->udataLen++;
 }
+
+double nn_getTime(nn_universe *universe) {
+    return universe->currentClock(universe->clockUserdata);
+}