diff --git a/src/org/joni/Regex.java b/src/org/joni/Regex.java
index 5e98312..967a3f9 100644
--- a/src/org/joni/Regex.java
+++ b/src/org/joni/Regex.java
@@ -507,4 +507,8 @@ public void setUserObject(Object object) {
     public Object getUserObject() {
         return userObject;
     }
+
+    public boolean isLinear() {
+        return !requireStack;
+    }
 }