diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/couchbase/repository/CouchbaseRepository.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/couchbase/repository/CouchbaseRepository.java
index ea9cce74..e596a9fc 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/couchbase/repository/CouchbaseRepository.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/couchbase/repository/CouchbaseRepository.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package org.springframework.data.couchbase.repository;
 
 import java.io.Serializable;
 
+import org.springframework.data.couchbase.core.CouchbaseOperations;
 import org.springframework.data.repository.CrudRepository;
 
 /**
@@ -27,4 +28,9 @@ import org.springframework.data.repository.CrudRepository;
  */
 public interface CouchbaseRepository<T, ID extends Serializable> extends CrudRepository<T, ID> {
 
+  /**
+   * @return a reference to the underlying {@link CouchbaseOperations operation template}.
+   */
+  CouchbaseOperations getCouchbaseOperations();
+
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/couchbase/repository/support/SimpleCouchbaseRepository.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/couchbase/repository/support/SimpleCouchbaseRepository.java
index 81acda32..28a53a1a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/couchbase/repository/support/SimpleCouchbaseRepository.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/couchbase/repository/support/SimpleCouchbaseRepository.java
@@ -191,12 +191,8 @@ public class SimpleCouchbaseRepository<T, ID extends Serializable> implements Co
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Returns the underlying operation template.
-   *
-   * @return the underlying template.
-   */
-  protected CouchbaseOperations getCouchbaseOperations() {
+  @Override
+  public CouchbaseOperations getCouchbaseOperations() {
     return couchbaseOperations;
   }