diff --git a/data.c b/data.c
index 96ec7f0..6ca5e0a 100644
--- a/data.c
+++ b/data.c
@@ -658,6 +658,20 @@ int object_del_if_unref(const char *id)
 }
 
 
+double object_ctime_by_md5(const char *md5)
+{
+    xs *fn = _object_fn_by_md5(md5);
+    return f_ctime(fn);
+}
+
+
+double object_ctime(const char *id)
+{
+    xs *md5 = xs_md5_hex(id, strlen(id));
+    return object_ctime_by_md5(md5);
+}
+
+
 d_char *_object_index_fn(const char *id, const char *idxsfx)
 /* returns the filename of an object's index */
 {
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index 570f5cc..0784b26 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ int object_get_by_md5(const char *md5, xs_dict **obj);
 int object_get(const char *id, xs_dict **obj);
 int object_del(const char *id);
 int object_del_if_unref(const char *id);
+double object_ctime_by_md5(const char *md5);
+double object_ctime(const char *id);
 int object_admire(const char *id, const char *actor, int like);
 
 int object_likes_len(const char *id);