diff --git a/src/journal.rs b/src/journal.rs
index aa4835e..0e0e177 100644
--- a/src/journal.rs
+++ b/src/journal.rs
@@ -996,6 +996,16 @@ impl JournalRef {
         Ok(system_time_from_realtime_usec(timestamp_us))
     }
 
+    /// Returns timestamp at which current journal entry was recorded in u64 format.
+    pub fn timestamp_u64(&self) -> Result<u64> {
+        let mut timestamp_us: u64 = 0;
+        sd_try!(ffi::sd_journal_get_realtime_usec(
+            self.as_ptr(),
+            &mut timestamp_us
+        ));
+        Ok(timestamp_us)
+    }
+
     /// Returns monotonic timestamp and boot ID at which current journal entry was recorded.
     pub fn monotonic_timestamp(&self) -> Result<(u64, Id128)> {
         let mut monotonic_timestamp_us: u64 = 0;
diff --git a/tests/journal.rs b/tests/journal.rs
index 7139784..9cf6de8 100644
--- a/tests/journal.rs
+++ b/tests/journal.rs
@@ -69,6 +69,27 @@ fn ts() {
     assert_eq!(u1, u2);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_timestamp() {
+    if !have_journal() {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    let mut j = journal::OpenOptions::default().open().unwrap();
+    log!(log::Level::Info, "rust-systemd ts entry");
+    j.seek(journal::JournalSeek::Head).unwrap();
+    j.next().unwrap();
+    let timestamp_system_time = j.timestamp().unwrap();
+    let timestamp_u64 = j.timestamp_u64().unwrap();
+
+    let since_the_epoch = timestamp_system_time
+        .duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)
+        .expect("Time went backwards");
+    let timestamp_system_time_u64 = since_the_epoch.as_micros() as u64;
+
+    assert_eq!(timestamp_u64, timestamp_system_time_u64);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn test_seek() {
     let mut j = journal::OpenOptions::default().open().unwrap();