diff --git a/src/item.h b/src/item.h
index b7dde35f..79d2f23b 100644
--- a/src/item.h
+++ b/src/item.h
@@ -175,6 +175,10 @@ public:
 
   static bool use_effective_date;
 
+  virtual bool has_date() const {
+    return _date;
+  }
+
   virtual date_t date() const {
     assert(_date);
     if (use_effective_date)