diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/colorbar.py b/lib/matplotlib/colorbar.py
index ad6a145a9d1..69dd6ec4346 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/colorbar.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/colorbar.py
@@ -341,6 +341,7 @@ def draw_all(self):
         Calculate any free parameters based on the current cmap and norm,
         and do all the drawing.
         '''
+
         self._process_values()
         self._find_range()
         X, Y = self._mesh()
@@ -396,6 +397,10 @@ def set_ticks(self, ticks, update_ticks=True):
             self.update_ticks()
         self.stale = True
 
+    def get_ticks(self, minor=False):
+        """Return the x ticks as a list of locations"""
+        return self._tick_data_values
+
     def set_ticklabels(self, ticklabels, update_ticks=True):
         """
         set tick labels. Tick labels are updated immediately unless
@@ -598,6 +603,7 @@ def _ticker(self):
         else:
             eps = (intv[1] - intv[0]) * 1e-10
             b = b[(b <= intv[1] + eps) & (b >= intv[0] - eps)]
+        self._tick_data_values = b
         ticks = self._locate(b)
         formatter.set_locs(b)
         ticklabels = [formatter(t, i) for i, t in enumerate(b)]
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_colorbar.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_colorbar.py
index 8d0bc1d709b..d142fbc51e9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_colorbar.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_colorbar.py
@@ -298,6 +298,33 @@ def test_colorbar_ticks():
     assert len(cbar.ax.xaxis.get_ticklocs()) == len(clevs)
 
 
+@cleanup
+def test_colorbar_get_ticks():
+    # test feature for #5792
+    plt.figure()
+    data = np.arange(1200).reshape(30, 40)
+    levels = [0, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200]
+
+    plt.subplot()
+    plt.contourf(data, levels=levels)
+
+    # testing getter for user set ticks
+    userTicks = plt.colorbar(ticks=[0, 600, 1200])
+    assert userTicks.get_ticks().tolist() == [0, 600, 1200]
+
+    # testing for getter after calling set_ticks
+    userTicks.set_ticks([600, 700, 800])
+    assert userTicks.get_ticks().tolist() == [600, 700, 800]
+
+    # testing for getter after calling set_ticks with some ticks out of bounds
+    userTicks.set_ticks([600, 1300, 1400, 1500])
+    assert userTicks.get_ticks().tolist() == [600]
+
+    # testing getter when no ticks are assigned
+    defTicks = plt.colorbar(orientation='horizontal')
+    assert defTicks.get_ticks().tolist() == levels
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     import nose
     nose.runmodule(argv=['-s', '--with-doctest'], exit=False)