diff --git a/gridfs/grid_file.py b/gridfs/grid_file.py
index 0ab1631e8..a67bfb64c 100644
--- a/gridfs/grid_file.py
+++ b/gridfs/grid_file.py
@@ -164,6 +164,12 @@ class GridFile(object):
 
         self.__collection.chunks.remove({"files_id": self.__id})
 
+    @property
+    def _id(self):
+        """Get the value of ``"_id"`` for this :class:`GridFile`.
+        """
+        return self.__id
+
     @property
     def closed(self):
         """Is this :class:`GridFile` closed?
diff --git a/test/test_grid_file.py b/test/test_grid_file.py
index ff5d510f3..1083d17f4 100644
--- a/test/test_grid_file.py
+++ b/test/test_grid_file.py
@@ -426,6 +426,10 @@ class TestGridFile(unittest.TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(in_data, out_data)
 
+    def test_id(self):
+        file = GridFile({"_id": "test"}, self.db, "w")
+        self.assertEqual("test", file._id)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()