diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 74369f5ab8..4607c461e0 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 	<groupId>org.springframework.data</groupId>
 	<artifactId>spring-data-redis</artifactId>
-	<version>2.5.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+	<version>2.5.0-GH-1745-SNAPSHOT</version>
 
 	<name>Spring Data Redis</name>
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/connection/lettuce/LettuceConnectionFactory.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/connection/lettuce/LettuceConnectionFactory.java
index 8c4c67f1c4..6fd70119e9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/connection/lettuce/LettuceConnectionFactory.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/redis/connection/lettuce/LettuceConnectionFactory.java
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
 import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
+
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.DisposableBean;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.InitializingBean;
 import org.springframework.dao.DataAccessException;
@@ -56,7 +57,6 @@
 import org.springframework.data.redis.connection.RedisConfiguration.DomainSocketConfiguration;
 import org.springframework.data.redis.connection.RedisConfiguration.WithDatabaseIndex;
 import org.springframework.data.redis.connection.RedisConfiguration.WithPassword;
-import org.springframework.data.redis.connection.lettuce.LettuceConnection.*;
 import org.springframework.data.util.Optionals;
 import org.springframework.lang.Nullable;
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
@@ -788,6 +788,45 @@ public void setClientName(@Nullable String clientName) {
 		this.getMutableConfiguration().setClientName(clientName);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Returns the native {@link AbstractRedisClient} used by this instance. The client is initialized as part of
+	 * {@link #afterPropertiesSet() the bean initialization lifecycle} and only available when this connection factory is
+	 * initialized.
+	 * <p/>
+	 * Depending on the configuration, the client can be either {@link RedisClient} or {@link RedisClusterClient}.
+	 *
+	 * @return the native {@link AbstractRedisClient}. Can be {@literal null} if not initialized.
+	 * @since 2.5
+	 * @see #afterPropertiesSet()
+	 */
+	@Nullable
+	public AbstractRedisClient getNativeClient() {
+		return this.client;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns the native {@link AbstractRedisClient} used by this instance. The client is initialized as part of
+	 * {@link #afterPropertiesSet() the bean initialization lifecycle} and only available when this connection factory is
+	 * initialized. Throws {@link IllegalStateException} if not yet initialized.
+	 * <p/>
+	 * Depending on the configuration, the client can be either {@link RedisClient} or {@link RedisClusterClient}.
+	 *
+	 * @return the native {@link AbstractRedisClient}.
+	 * @since 2.5
+	 * @throws IllegalStateException if not yet initialized.
+	 * @see #getNativeClient()
+	 */
+	public AbstractRedisClient getRequiredNativeClient() {
+
+		AbstractRedisClient client = getNativeClient();
+
+		if (client == null) {
+			throw new IllegalStateException("Client not yet initialized");
+		}
+
+		return client;
+	}
+
 	@Nullable
 	private String getRedisUsername() {
 		return RedisConfiguration.getUsernameOrElse(configuration, standaloneConfig::getUsername);
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/redis/connection/lettuce/LettuceConnectionFactoryUnitTests.java b/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/redis/connection/lettuce/LettuceConnectionFactoryUnitTests.java
index f56aca7d49..bcdafa7134 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/redis/connection/lettuce/LettuceConnectionFactoryUnitTests.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/redis/connection/lettuce/LettuceConnectionFactoryUnitTests.java
@@ -989,6 +989,31 @@ protected LettuceConnectionProvider doCreateConnectionProvider(AbstractRedisClie
 		assertThat(reactiveConnection).isInstanceOf(LettuceReactiveRedisClusterConnection.class);
 	}
 
+	@Test // GH-1745
+	void getNativeClientShouldReturnClient() {
+
+		LettuceConnectionFactory connectionFactory = new LettuceConnectionFactory();
+		connectionFactory.setClientResources(getSharedClientResources());
+		connectionFactory.afterPropertiesSet();
+
+		assertThat(connectionFactory.getNativeClient()).isInstanceOf(RedisClient.class);
+
+		connectionFactory = new LettuceConnectionFactory(clusterConfig);
+		connectionFactory.setClientResources(getSharedClientResources());
+		connectionFactory.afterPropertiesSet();
+
+		assertThat(connectionFactory.getRequiredNativeClient()).isInstanceOf(RedisClusterClient.class);
+	}
+
+	@Test // GH-1745
+	void getNativeClientShouldFailIfNotInitialized() {
+
+		LettuceConnectionFactory connectionFactory = new LettuceConnectionFactory();
+
+		assertThatIllegalStateException().isThrownBy(connectionFactory::getRequiredNativeClient)
+				.withMessage("Client not yet initialized");
+	}
+
 	@Data
 	@AllArgsConstructor
 	static class CustomRedisConfiguration implements RedisConfiguration, WithHostAndPort {