diff --git a/python/psi-api/src/com/jetbrains/python/psi/PyClass.java b/python/psi-api/src/com/jetbrains/python/psi/PyClass.java
index 6c0ae56bf2ab..723214fa2e1b 100644
--- a/python/psi-api/src/com/jetbrains/python/psi/PyClass.java
+++ b/python/psi-api/src/com/jetbrains/python/psi/PyClass.java
@@ -222,4 +222,13 @@ public interface PyClass extends PsiNameIdentifierOwner, PyStatement, NameDefine
    */
   @Nullable
   PyClassLikeType getMetaClassType(@NotNull TypeEvalContext context);
+
+  /**
+   * Returns the expression that defines the metaclass of the class.
+   *
+   * It might be defined outside the class in case of file-level __metaclass__ attributes.
+   * Operates at the AST level.
+   */
+  @Nullable
+  PyExpression getMetaClassExpression();
 }
diff --git a/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/psi/impl/PyClassImpl.java b/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/psi/impl/PyClassImpl.java
index 7ebff88ca682..6928810ccbfe 100644
--- a/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/psi/impl/PyClassImpl.java
+++ b/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/psi/impl/PyClassImpl.java
@@ -1181,6 +1181,7 @@ public class PyClassImpl extends PyPresentableElementImpl<PyClassStub> implement
   }
 
   @Nullable
+  @Override
   public PyExpression getMetaClassExpression() {
     final LanguageLevel level = LanguageLevel.forElement(this);
     if (level.isAtLeast(LanguageLevel.PYTHON30)) {