diff --git a/include/openmc/particle_data.h b/include/openmc/particle_data.h
index f72948f6eb..93001134e3 100644
--- a/include/openmc/particle_data.h
+++ b/include/openmc/particle_data.h
@@ -352,6 +352,10 @@ public:
   Position& r_born() { return r_born_; }
   const Position& r_born() const { return r_born_; }
 
+  // Direction at birth
+  Direction& u_born() { return u_born_; }
+  const Direction& u_born() const { return u_born_; }
+
   // Coordinates of last collision or reflective/periodic surface
   // crossing for current tallies
   Position& r_last_current() { return r_last_current_; }
@@ -426,6 +430,7 @@ private:
   vector<int> cell_last_; //!< coordinates for all levels
 
   Position r_born_;         //!< coordinates at birth
+  Position u_born_;         //!< direction at birth
   Position r_last_current_; //!< coordinates of the last collision or
                             //!< reflective/periodic surface crossing for
                             //!< current tallies
diff --git a/src/particle.cpp b/src/particle.cpp
index 779ae18da9..fa3bcc7f51 100644
--- a/src/particle.cpp
+++ b/src/particle.cpp
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ void Particle::from_source(const SourceSite* src)
   r() = src->r;
   u() = src->u;
   r_born() = src->r;
+  u_born() = src->u;
   r_last_current() = src->r;
   r_last() = src->r;
   u_last() = src->u;