diff --git a/SakuraCore/src/LayerStack.h b/SakuraCore/src/LayerStack.h
index e1c0ec3..9ee7f39 100644
--- a/SakuraCore/src/LayerStack.h
+++ b/SakuraCore/src/LayerStack.h
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ public:
     void SubmitCommand(LayerCommand command);
     void ProcessCommands();
 
+#ifdef DEBUG
+    // this is only used for the tests for now, so it will be taken out of the release build
+    inline const std::vector<std::unique_ptr<Layer>> &GetLayers() const { return m_LayerStack; }
+#endif
 private:
     std::vector<LayerCommand> m_CommandQueue;
     std::vector<std::unique_ptr<Layer>> m_LayerStack;