diff --git a/R-package/src/xgboost_R.cc b/R-package/src/xgboost_R.cc
index 665fb5faa..846ad9f47 100644
--- a/R-package/src/xgboost_R.cc
+++ b/R-package/src/xgboost_R.cc
@@ -195,6 +195,14 @@ SEXP XGDMatrixNumRow_R(SEXP handle) {
   return ScalarInteger(static_cast<int>(nrow));
 }
 
+SEXP XGDMatrixNumCol_R(SEXP handle) {
+  bst_ulong ncol;
+  R_API_BEGIN();
+  CHECK_CALL(XGDMatrixNumCol(R_ExternalPtrAddr(handle), &ncol));
+  R_API_END();
+  return ScalarInteger(static_cast<int>(ncol));
+}
+
 // functions related to booster
 void _BoosterFinalizer(SEXP ext) {
   if (R_ExternalPtrAddr(ext) == NULL) return;
diff --git a/R-package/src/xgboost_R.h b/R-package/src/xgboost_R.h
index 123ebe028..6e1739464 100644
--- a/R-package/src/xgboost_R.h
+++ b/R-package/src/xgboost_R.h
@@ -83,10 +83,16 @@ XGB_DLL SEXP XGDMatrixGetInfo_R(SEXP handle, SEXP field);
 
 /*!
  * \brief return number of rows
- * \param handle a instance of data matrix
+ * \param handle an instance of data matrix
  */
 XGB_DLL SEXP XGDMatrixNumRow_R(SEXP handle);
 
+/*!
+ * \brief return number of columns
+ * \param handle an instance of data matrix
+ */
+XGB_DLL SEXP XGDMatrixNumCol_R(SEXP handle);
+
 /*!
  * \brief create xgboost learner
  * \param dmats a list of dmatrix handles that will be cached