diff --git a/dune/gfe/rigidbodymotion.hh b/dune/gfe/rigidbodymotion.hh
index 1017e0da389c5f7499d97af47de35329d6d234a9..255d8caef20c655d054fbaefd910781584d7bf3a 100644
--- a/dune/gfe/rigidbodymotion.hh
+++ b/dune/gfe/rigidbodymotion.hh
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
 template <int dim, class T=double>
 struct RigidBodyMotion
 {
+    /** \brief Global coordinates wrt an isometric embedding function are available */
+    static const bool globalIsometricCoordinates = Rotation<dim,T>::globalIsometricCoordinates;
+
     /** \brief Type of an infinitesimal rigid body motion */
     typedef Dune::FieldVector<T, dim + Rotation<dim,T>::TangentVector::size> TangentVector;