diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.TypeNameHelper.Sources/TypeNameHelper.cs b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.TypeNameHelper.Sources/TypeNameHelper.cs
index c79a4be97bc..9735f1bc6e9 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Extensions.TypeNameHelper.Sources/TypeNameHelper.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Extensions.TypeNameHelper.Sources/TypeNameHelper.cs
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ internal class TypeNameHelper
             { typeof(ushort), "ushort" }
             };
 
+        public static string GetTypeDisplayName(object item, bool fullName = true)
+        {
+            return item == null ? null : GetTypeDisplayName(item.GetType(), fullName);
+        }
+
         public static string GetTypeDisplayName(Type type, bool fullName = true)
         {
             var sb = new StringBuilder();