diff --git a/src/timer.cpp b/src/timer.cpp
index 612a6be..9c37fa2 100644
--- a/src/timer.cpp
+++ b/src/timer.cpp
@@ -40,18 +40,18 @@ sc::timer::~timer() {
     timer_delete(_tid);
 }
 
-void sc::timer::time(struct itimerspec& cur_value) const {
+void sc::timer::time_left(struct itimerspec& cur_value) const {
     throw_if_min1_msg(timer_gettime(_tid, &cur_value), "could not get time");
 }
 
-double sc::timer::time() const {
+double sc::timer::time_left() const {
     struct itimerspec its;
-    time(its);
+    time_left(its);
     return its.it_value.tv_sec + its.it_value.tv_nsec * 1000000000;
 }
 
 bool sc::timer::is_armed() const {
     struct itimerspec its;
-    time(its);
+    time_left(its);
     return its.it_value.tv_sec != 0 || its.it_value.tv_nsec != 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/timer.hpp b/src/timer.hpp
index e10f8ae..f28c5ee 100644
--- a/src/timer.hpp
+++ b/src/timer.hpp
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ namespace sc {
             timer(void(*callback)(union sigval), double time, bool repeat = false);
             ~timer();
 
-            void time(struct itimerspec& cur_value) const;
-            double time() const;
+            void time_left(struct itimerspec& cur_value) const;
+            double time_left() const;
+            double time() const { return _time; }
             bool is_armed() const;
             bool repeat() const { return _repeat; }
     };