diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/dobj/AttributeChangedEvent.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/dobj/AttributeChangedEvent.java
index e988ba5f4..eaaee77b2 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/dobj/AttributeChangedEvent.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/dobj/AttributeChangedEvent.java
@@ -61,6 +61,15 @@ public class AttributeChangedEvent extends NamedEvent
         return _oldValue;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the new value of the attribute as a byte. This will fail
+     * if the attribute in question is not a byte.
+     */
+    public byte getByteValue ()
+    {
+        return ((Byte)_value).byteValue();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns the new value of the attribute as a short. This will fail
      * if the attribute in question is not a short.