diff --git a/src/entt/resource/resource.hpp b/src/entt/resource/resource.hpp
index c2294e937..42b480524 100644
--- a/src/entt/resource/resource.hpp
+++ b/src/entt/resource/resource.hpp
@@ -157,6 +157,14 @@ public:
         return value.use_count();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @brief Returns the underlying resource handle.
+     * @return The underlying resource handle.
+     */
+    [[nodiscard]] handle_type handle() const noexcept {
+        return value;
+    }
+
 private:
     handle_type value;
 };
diff --git a/test/entt/resource/resource.cpp b/test/entt/resource/resource.cpp
index 25b493a25..637e7d4f4 100644
--- a/test/entt/resource/resource.cpp
+++ b/test/entt/resource/resource.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ TEST(Resource, Functionalities) {
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(resource);
     ASSERT_EQ(resource.operator->(), nullptr);
-    ASSERT_EQ(resource.use_count(), 0l);
+    ASSERT_EQ(resource.handle().use_count(), 0l);
 
     const auto value = std::make_shared<derived>();
     entt::resource<derived> other{value};