diff --git a/netns.go b/netns.go
index df04d2a..1ba6b26 100644
--- a/netns.go
+++ b/netns.go
@@ -46,6 +46,19 @@ func (ns NsHandle) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("NS(%d: %d, %d)", ns, s.Dev, s.Ino)
 }
 
+// UniqueId returns a string which uniquely identifies the namespace
+// associated with the network handle.
+func (ns NsHandle) UniqueId() string {
+	var s syscall.Stat_t
+	if ns == -1 {
+		return "NS(none)"
+	}
+	if err := syscall.Fstat(int(ns), &s); err != nil {
+		return "NS(unknown)"
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("NS(%d:%d)", s.Dev, s.Ino)
+}
+
 // IsOpen returns true if Close() has not been called.
 func (ns NsHandle) IsOpen() bool {
 	return ns != -1