diff --git a/qubes/__init__.py b/qubes/__init__.py
index a404f9a4..9d077c88 100644
--- a/qubes/__init__.py
+++ b/qubes/__init__.py
@@ -221,14 +221,16 @@ class property(object):  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin,invalid-name
             return getattr(instance, self._attr_name)
 
         except AttributeError:
-            if self._default is self._NO_DEFAULT:
-                raise AttributeError(
-                    'property {!r} not set'.format(self.__name__))
-            elif isinstance(self._default, collections.Callable):
-                return self._default(instance)
-            else:
-                return self._default
+            return self.get_default(instance)
 
+    def get_default(self, instance):
+        if self._default is self._NO_DEFAULT:
+            raise AttributeError(
+                'property {!r} have no default'.format(self.__name__))
+        elif isinstance(self._default, collections.Callable):
+            return self._default(instance)
+        else:
+            return self._default
 
     def __set__(self, instance, value):
         self._enforce_write_once(instance)
@@ -554,6 +556,15 @@ class PropertyHolder(qubes.events.Emitter):
         attrname = self.property_get_def(prop)._attr_name
         return not hasattr(self, attrname)
 
+    def property_get_default(self, prop):
+        '''Get property default value.
+
+        :param qubes.property or str prop: property object of particular
+        interest
+        '''
+
+        return self.property_get_def(prop).get_default(self)
+
 
     @classmethod
     def property_get_def(cls, prop):
diff --git a/qubes/tests/init.py b/qubes/tests/init.py
index 25490c69..a2b9da3e 100644
--- a/qubes/tests/init.py
+++ b/qubes/tests/init.py
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ class TC_10_property(qubes.tests.QubesTestCase):
         holder = MyTestHolder(None)
 
         self.assertEqual(holder.testprop1, 'defaultvalue')
+        self.assertEqual(
+            type(holder).testprop1.get_default(holder),
+            'defaultvalue')
 
     def test_023_get_default_func(self):
         class MyTestHolder(qubes.tests.TestEmitter, qubes.PropertyHolder):
@@ -278,6 +281,13 @@ class TC_20_PropertyHolder(qubes.tests.QubesTestCase):
         expected_prop3.text = 'testdefault'
         self.assertXMLEqual(elements_with_defaults[2], expected_prop3)
 
+    def test_007_property_get_default(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self.holder.property_get_default('testprop3'),
+            'testdefault')
+        with self.assertRaises(AttributeError):
+            self.holder.property_get_default('testprop1'),
+
     @unittest.skip('test not implemented')
     def test_010_property_require(self):
         pass