diff --git a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCellNode.h b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCellNode.h
index 0a6ccf3fb3..d5ae55aec4 100644
--- a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCellNode.h
+++ b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCellNode.h
@@ -116,6 +116,13 @@ typedef NS_ENUM(NSUInteger, ASCellNodeVisibilityEvent) {
  */
 @property (nonatomic, readonly, nullable) NSIndexPath *indexPath;
 
+/**
+ * The backing view controller, or @c nil if the node wasn't initialized with backing view controller
+ * @note This property must be accessed on the main thread.
+ */
+@property (nonatomic, readonly, nullable) UIViewController *viewController;
+
+
 /**
  * The owning node (ASCollectionNode/ASTableNode) of this cell node, or @c nil if this node is
  * not a valid item inside a table node or collection node or if those nodes are nil.
diff --git a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCellNode.mm b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCellNode.mm
index 84c81b6bf6..cad63a8230 100644
--- a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCellNode.mm
+++ b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCellNode.mm
@@ -236,6 +236,17 @@ static NSMutableSet *__cellClassesForVisibilityNotifications = nil; // See +init
   return nil;
 }
 
+- (UIViewController *)viewController
+{
+  ASDisplayNodeAssertMainThread();
+  // Force the view to load so that we will create the
+  // view controller if we haven't already.
+  if (self.isNodeLoaded == NO) {
+    [self view];
+  }
+  return _viewController;
+}
+
 #pragma clang diagnostic push
 #pragma clang diagnostic ignored "-Wobjc-missing-super-calls"