diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Database/Migrations/Migration.php b/src/Illuminate/Database/Migrations/Migration.php
index a58f7848a7e1..64c74353cddd 100755
--- a/src/Illuminate/Database/Migrations/Migration.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Database/Migrations/Migration.php
@@ -2,8 +2,17 @@
 
 namespace Illuminate\Database\Migrations;
 
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
+
 abstract class Migration
 {
+    /**
+     * The database schema.
+     *
+     * @var \Illuminate\Database\Schema\Builder
+     */
+    protected $schema;
+
     /**
      * The name of the database connection to use.
      *
@@ -18,6 +27,16 @@ abstract class Migration
      */
     public $withinTransaction = true;
 
+    /**
+     * Create a new migration instance.
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function __construct()
+    {
+        $this->schema = Schema::connection($this->getConnection());
+    }
+
     /**
      * Get the migration connection name.
      *