diff --git a/src/preserves.nim b/src/preserves.nim
index ab41690..270700a 100644
--- a/src/preserves.nim
+++ b/src/preserves.nim
@@ -1189,6 +1189,17 @@ proc mapEmbeds*[A, B](pr: sink Preserve[A]; op: proc (v: A): B): Preserve[B] =
     of pkEmbedded:
       result = embed op(pr.embed)
 
+proc getOrDefault*[T, V](pr: Preserve[T]; key: string; default: V): V =
+  ## Retrieves the value of `pr[key]` if `pr` is a dictionary containing `key`
+  ## or returns the `default` value.
+  var sym = toSymbol(key, T)
+  if pr.kind == pkDictionary:
+    for (k, v) in pr.dict:
+      if sym == k:
+        if fromPreserve(result, v): return
+        else: break
+  default
+
 proc writeText*[E](stream: Stream; pr: Preserve[E]) =
   ## Encode Preserves to a `Stream` as text.
   if pr.embedded: write(stream, "#!")