diff --git a/python/caffe/pycaffe.py b/python/caffe/pycaffe.py
index 18803818fef..63606591bb4 100644
--- a/python/caffe/pycaffe.py
+++ b/python/caffe/pycaffe.py
@@ -43,6 +43,16 @@ def _Net_blob_loss_weights(self):
                                                        self._blob_loss_weights))
     return self._blob_loss_weights_dict
 
+@property
+def _Net_layer_dict(self):
+    """
+    An OrderedDict (bottom to top, i.e., input to output) of network
+    layers indexed by name
+    """
+    if not hasattr(self, '_layer_dict'):
+        self._layer_dict = OrderedDict(zip(self._layer_names, self.layers))
+    return self._layer_dict
+
 
 @property
 def _Net_params(self):
@@ -321,6 +331,7 @@ def get_id_name(self):
 # Attach methods to Net.
 Net.blobs = _Net_blobs
 Net.blob_loss_weights = _Net_blob_loss_weights
+Net.layer_dict = _Net_layer_dict
 Net.params = _Net_params
 Net.forward = _Net_forward
 Net.backward = _Net_backward
diff --git a/python/caffe/test/test_net.py b/python/caffe/test/test_net.py
index a0739fbac4d..24391cc50c4 100644
--- a/python/caffe/test/test_net.py
+++ b/python/caffe/test/test_net.py
@@ -60,6 +60,13 @@ def test_memory(self):
         for bl in blobs:
             total += bl.data.sum() + bl.diff.sum()
 
+    def test_layer_dict(self):
+        layer_dict = self.net.layer_dict
+        self.assertEqual(list(layer_dict.keys()), list(self.net._layer_names))
+        for i, name in enumerate(self.net._layer_names):
+            self.assertEqual(layer_dict[name].type,
+                             self.net.layers[i].type)
+
     def test_forward_backward(self):
         self.net.forward()
         self.net.backward()