diff --git a/src/crypto/index.js b/src/crypto/index.js
index d43c27d1d..d94ba0aa2 100644
--- a/src/crypto/index.js
+++ b/src/crypto/index.js
@@ -2503,6 +2503,7 @@ Crypto.prototype._handleVerificationEvent = async function(
         if (!request) {
             return;
         }
+        event.setVerificationRequest(request);
         isNewRequest = true;
         if (!requestsByTxnId) {
             requestsByTxnId = new Map();
diff --git a/src/models/event.js b/src/models/event.js
index 0d1b7048b..34af1ecfe 100644
--- a/src/models/event.js
+++ b/src/models/event.js
@@ -155,6 +155,12 @@ module.exports.MatrixEvent = function MatrixEvent(
      * attempt may succeed)
      */
     this._retryDecryption = false;
+
+    /* If the event is a `m.key.verification.request` (or to_device `m.key.verification.start`) event,
+     * `Crypto` will set this the `VerificationRequest` for the event
+     * so it can be easily accessed from the timeline.
+     */
+    this.verificationRequest = null;
 };
 utils.inherits(module.exports.MatrixEvent, EventEmitter);
 
@@ -1055,6 +1061,10 @@ utils.extend(module.exports.MatrixEvent.prototype, {
             encrypted: this.event,
         };
     },
+
+    setVerificationRequest: function(request) {
+        this.verificationRequest = request;
+    },
 });