diff --git a/src/pane.coffee b/src/pane.coffee
index 6998ad938..763c37519 100644
--- a/src/pane.coffee
+++ b/src/pane.coffee
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 {Model, Sequence} = require 'theorist'
 Serializable = require 'serializable'
 PaneAxis = require './pane-axis'
+Editor = require './editor'
 PaneView = null
 
 # Public: A container for multiple items, one of which is *active* at a given
@@ -91,6 +92,12 @@ class Pane extends Model
   getActiveItem: ->
     @activeItem
 
+  # Public: Returns an {Editor} if the pane item is an {Editor}, or null
+  # otherwise.
+  getActiveEditor: ->
+    console.log
+    @activeItem if @activeItem instanceof Editor
+
   # Public: Returns the item at the specified index.
   itemAtIndex: (index) ->
     @items[index]
diff --git a/src/workspace.coffee b/src/workspace.coffee
index d8cd563fa..c123131e7 100644
--- a/src/workspace.coffee
+++ b/src/workspace.coffee
@@ -155,6 +155,11 @@ class Workspace extends Model
   destroyActivePane: ->
     @activePane?.destroy()
 
+  # Public: Returns an {Editor} if the active pane item is an {Editor},
+  # or null otherwise.
+  getActiveEditor: ->
+    @activePane?.getActiveEditor()
+
   increaseFontSize: ->
     atom.config.set("editor.fontSize", atom.config.get("editor.fontSize") + 1)