diff --git a/src/helma/objectmodel/db/Relation.java b/src/helma/objectmodel/db/Relation.java
index 352453a5..5a56beb9 100644
--- a/src/helma/objectmodel/db/Relation.java
+++ b/src/helma/objectmodel/db/Relation.java
@@ -293,6 +293,13 @@ public class Relation {
 	return virtual;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Tell if this relation represents a primitive (scalar) value mapping.
+     */
+    public boolean isPrimitive () {
+	return reftype == PRIMITIVE;
+    }
+    
     /**
      * Return the prototype to be used for object reached by this relation
      */