diff --git a/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/cell_template.jinja2 b/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/cell_template.jinja2
index 2b964641..52971972 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/cell_template.jinja2
+++ b/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/cell_template.jinja2
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ begintemplate {{template_name}}
   public all, somatic, apical, axonal, basal, myelinated, APC
   objref all, somatic, apical, axonal, basal, myelinated, APC
 
+obfunc getCell(){
+        return this
+}
+
 proc init(/* args: morphology_dir, morphology_name */) {
   all = new SectionList()
   apical = new SectionList()