diff --git a/deltachat-ffi/deltachat.h b/deltachat-ffi/deltachat.h
index 0dd56b4da..ef64ed58d 100644
--- a/deltachat-ffi/deltachat.h
+++ b/deltachat-ffi/deltachat.h
@@ -3026,6 +3026,32 @@ int             dc_msg_get_duration           (const dc_msg_t* msg);
 int             dc_msg_get_showpadlock        (const dc_msg_t* msg);
 
 
+/**
+ * Get ephemeral timer duration for message.
+ *
+ * To check if the timer is started and calculate remaining time,
+ * use dc_msg_get_ephemeral_timestamp().
+ *
+ * @memberof dc_msg_t
+ * @param msg The message object.
+ * @return Duration in seconds, or 0 if no timer is set.
+ */
+uint32_t        dc_msg_get_ephemeral_timer    (const dc_msg_t* msg);
+
+/**
+ * Get timestamp of ephemeral message removal.
+ *
+ * If returned value is non-zero, you can calculate the * fraction of
+ * time remaining by divinding the difference between the current timestamp
+ * and this timestamp by dc_msg_get_ephemeral_timer().
+ *
+ * @memberof dc_msg_t
+ * @param msg The message object.
+ * @return Time of message removal, 0 if the timer is not started.
+ */
+int64_t          dc_msg_get_ephemeral_timestamp (const dc_msg_t* msg);
+
+
 /**
  * Get a summary for a message.
  *
diff --git a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
index 1856333f6..b36b78976 100644
--- a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
+++ b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
@@ -2675,6 +2675,26 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_msg_get_showpadlock(msg: *mut dc_msg_t) -> libc::c_i
     ffi_msg.message.get_showpadlock() as libc::c_int
 }
 
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_msg_get_ephemeral_timer(msg: *mut dc_msg_t) -> u32 {
+    if msg.is_null() {
+        eprintln!("ignoring careless call to dc_msg_get_ephemeral_timer()");
+        return 0;
+    }
+    let ffi_msg = &*msg;
+    ffi_msg.message.get_ephemeral_timer()
+}
+
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_msg_get_ephemeral_timestamp(msg: *mut dc_msg_t) -> i64 {
+    if msg.is_null() {
+        eprintln!("ignoring careless call to dc_msg_get_ephemeral_timer()");
+        return 0;
+    }
+    let ffi_msg = &*msg;
+    ffi_msg.message.get_ephemeral_timestamp()
+}
+
 #[no_mangle]
 pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_msg_get_summary(
     msg: *mut dc_msg_t,
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/message.py b/python/src/deltachat/message.py
index 5c3bd7f59..7a7bbd2d9 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/message.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/message.py
@@ -154,6 +154,26 @@ class Message(object):
         if ts:
             return datetime.utcfromtimestamp(ts)
 
+    @props.with_doc
+    def ephemeral_timer(self):
+        """Ephemeral timer in seconds
+
+        :returns: timer in seconds or None if there is no timer
+        """
+        timer = lib.dc_msg_get_ephemeral_timer(self._dc_msg)
+        if timer:
+            return timer
+
+    @props.with_doc
+    def ephemeral_timestamp(self):
+        """UTC time when the message will be deleted.
+
+        :returns: naive datetime.datetime() object or None if the timer is not started.
+        """
+        ts = lib.dc_msg_get_ephemeral_timestamp(self._dc_msg)
+        if ts:
+            return datetime.utcfromtimestamp(ts)
+
     def get_mime_headers(self):
         """ return mime-header object for an incoming message.
 
diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index c65164eb7..526c98c4a 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -1568,19 +1568,25 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
 
         lp.sec("ac2: send message to ac1")
         sent_message = chat2.send_text("message")
+        assert sent_message.ephemeral_timer == 60
         assert "Ephemeral timer: 60\n" in sent_message.get_message_info()
 
         # Timer is started immediately for sent messages
+        assert sent_message.ephemeral_timestamp is not None
         assert "Expires: " in sent_message.get_message_info()
 
         lp.sec("ac1: waiting for message from ac2")
         text_message = ac1._evtracker.wait_next_incoming_message()
         assert text_message.text == "message"
+        assert text_message.ephemeral_timer == 60
         assert "Ephemeral timer: 60\n" in text_message.get_message_info()
 
         # Timer should not start until message is displayed
+        assert text_message.ephemeral_timestamp is None
         assert "Expires: " not in text_message.get_message_info()
         text_message.mark_seen()
+        text_message = ac1.get_message_by_id(text_message.id)
+        assert text_message.ephemeral_timestamp is not None
         assert "Expires: " in text_message.get_message_info()
 
         lp.sec("ac2: set ephemeral timer to 0")
@@ -1589,6 +1595,7 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
         lp.sec("ac1: receive system message about ephemeral timer modification")
         ac1._evtracker.get_matching("DC_EVENT_CHAT_EPHEMERAL_TIMER_MODIFIED")
         system_message2 = ac1._evtracker.wait_next_incoming_message()
+        assert system_message2.ephemeral_timer is None
         assert "Ephemeral timer: " not in system_message2.get_message_info()
         assert chat1.get_ephemeral_timer() == 0
 
diff --git a/src/message.rs b/src/message.rs
index 71b20c2aa..cadc025b9 100644
--- a/src/message.rs
+++ b/src/message.rs
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ pub struct Message {
     pub(crate) timestamp_sort: i64,
     pub(crate) timestamp_sent: i64,
     pub(crate) timestamp_rcvd: i64,
-    pub(crate) ephemeral_timer: i64,
+    pub(crate) ephemeral_timer: u32,
     pub(crate) ephemeral_timestamp: i64,
     pub(crate) text: Option<String>,
     pub(crate) rfc724_mid: String,
@@ -493,6 +493,14 @@ impl Message {
         self.param.get_int(Param::GuaranteeE2ee).unwrap_or_default() != 0
     }
 
+    pub fn get_ephemeral_timer(&self) -> u32 {
+        self.ephemeral_timer
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_ephemeral_timestamp(&self) -> i64 {
+        self.ephemeral_timestamp
+    }
+
     pub async fn get_summary(&mut self, context: &Context, chat: Option<&Chat>) -> Lot {
         let mut ret = Lot::new();