diff --git a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/service/protocol/UserCredentials.java b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/service/protocol/UserCredentials.java
index 0ea7555d2..a74b0db1e 100644
--- a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/service/protocol/UserCredentials.java
+++ b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/service/protocol/UserCredentials.java
@@ -58,6 +58,19 @@ public char[] getPassword()
         return password;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns a String containing the password associated with this set of
+     * credentials.
+     *
+     * @return a String containing the password associated with this set of
+     * credentials.
+     */
+    public String getPasswordAsString()
+    {
+        return new String(password);
+    }
+
+
     /**
      * Specifies whether or not the password associated with this credentials
      * object is to be sored persistently (insecure!) or not.