diff --git a/builtin/common/after.lua b/builtin/common/after.lua
index 321e5ac9d5def..268e53a5fc94b 100644
--- a/builtin/common/after.lua
+++ b/builtin/common/after.lua
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ end
 local function remove_first_jobs()
 	local removed_expiry = heap_pop(expiries)
 	local removed = job_map[removed_expiry]
+	removed.elapsed_time = removed_expiry
 	job_map[removed_expiry] = nil
 	return removed
 end
@@ -117,6 +118,12 @@ local time_next = math.huge
 core.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 	time = time + dtime
 
+	for _, job in pairs(job_map) do
+		if job.elapsed_time then
+			job.elapsed_time = job.elapsed_time + dtime
+		end
+	end
+
 	if time < time_next then
 		return
 	end
@@ -151,6 +158,7 @@ local function dummy_func() end
 function job_metatable.__index:cancel()
 	self.func = dummy_func
 	self.args = {n = 0}
+	self.elapsed_time = nil
 end
 
 function core.after(after, func, ...)
@@ -160,10 +168,14 @@ function core.after(after, func, ...)
 	local new_job = {
 		mod_origin = core.get_last_run_mod(),
 		func = func,
+		elapsed_time = time,
 		args = {
 			n = select("#", ...),
 			...
 		},
+		get_elapsed_time = function(self)
+			return self.elapsed_time
+		end
 	}
 
 	local expiry = time + after
diff --git a/doc/lua_api.md b/doc/lua_api.md
index a43f517a00f6f..4c0064c918ff4 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.md
+++ b/doc/lua_api.md
@@ -6699,6 +6699,9 @@ Timing
     * Jobs set for earlier times are executed earlier. If multiple jobs expire
       at exactly the same time, then they are executed in registration order.
 
+* `job:get_elapsed_time()`
+    * Returns the game time passed since the job was launched, in `dtime_s`.
+    * Returns `nil` if the job is cancelled.
 * `job:cancel()`
     * Cancels the job function from being called