diff --git a/lisp/l/coordinates.l b/lisp/l/coordinates.l
index b1c8b5d1a..1a54d2c0f 100644
--- a/lisp/l/coordinates.l
+++ b/lisp/l/coordinates.l
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@
 	    (transform-coords (send (send self :parentcoords)
 				    :inverse-transformation) cc cc)
 	    (send self :newcoords cc))))
+  (:align (from &key to)
+     (unless (coordinates-p from) (error "coordinates expected for self-reference"))
+     (unless (coordinates-p to) (error "coordinates expected for target"))
+     (send self :transform (send from :transformation to :world) :world)
+     self)
   (:rotate-vector (v) (transform rot v))
   (:transform-vector  (v)
    ;vector v given in the local coords is converted to world representation