diff --git a/utils/p4runtime_lib/convert.py b/utils/p4runtime_lib/convert.py
index 671b9107c..abf59bf1e 100644
--- a/utils/p4runtime_lib/convert.py
+++ b/utils/p4runtime_lib/convert.py
@@ -77,6 +77,16 @@ def encode(x, bitwidth):
     assert(len(encoded_bytes) == byte_len)
     return encoded_bytes
 
+
+def decode(enc_val):
+    decode_functions = [decodeIPv4, decodeMac, decodeNum]
+    for func in decode_functions:
+        try:
+            return func(enc_val)
+        except:
+            pass
+    raise Exception("Encoded value format not compatible")
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     # TODO These tests should be moved out of main eventually
     mac = "aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff"
diff --git a/utils/p4runtime_lib/switch.py b/utils/p4runtime_lib/switch.py
index d02fee885..93311b3cd 100644
--- a/utils/p4runtime_lib/switch.py
+++ b/utils/p4runtime_lib/switch.py
@@ -84,6 +84,17 @@ def SetForwardingPipelineConfig(self, p4info, dry_run=False, **kwargs):
         else:
             self.client_stub.SetForwardingPipelineConfig(request)
 
+    def GetForwardingPipelineConfig(self):
+        try:
+            request = p4runtime_pb2.GetForwardingPipelineConfigRequest()
+            request.device_id = self.device_id
+            response = self.client_stub.GetForwardingPipelineConfig(request)
+            return response.config.p4info
+        except grpc._channel._InactiveRpcError as e:
+            if(e.code() == grpc.StatusCode.FAILED_PRECONDITION):
+                print(e.debug_error_string())
+            return None
+
     def WriteTableEntry(self, table_entry, dry_run=False):
         request = p4runtime_pb2.WriteRequest()
         request.device_id = self.device_id