diff --git a/eo/src/utils/eoParser.cpp b/eo/src/utils/eoParser.cpp
index fc1068b3..6ddcdb63 100644
--- a/eo/src/utils/eoParser.cpp
+++ b/eo/src/utils/eoParser.cpp
@@ -129,6 +129,15 @@ eoParam * eoParser::getParamWithLongName(const std::string& _name) const
     return 0;
 }
 
+eoParam * getParam(const std::string& _name) const
+{
+    eoParam * p = getParamWithLongName( _name );
+    if( p == NULL ) {
+        throw eoMissingParamException(_name );
+    } else {
+        return p;
+    }
+}
 
 void eoParser::processParam(eoParam& param, std::string section)
 {
diff --git a/eo/src/utils/eoParser.h b/eo/src/utils/eoParser.h
index e65f7566..1ba46317 100644
--- a/eo/src/utils/eoParser.h
+++ b/eo/src/utils/eoParser.h
@@ -176,6 +176,12 @@ public:
     eoParam * getParamWithLongName(const std::string& _name) const;
 
 
+    /**
+     * Get a handle on a param from its long name
+     * If not found, raise an eoMissingParamException
+     */
+    eoParam * getParam(const std::string& _name) const;
+
 
     /** Get or create parameter