diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.c b/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.c
index 8ac203b3f..744a66d0a 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.c
@@ -1821,6 +1821,12 @@ meta_seat_x11_new (MetaBackend *backend,
   return seat_x11;
 }
 
+MetaBackend *
+meta_seat_x11_get_backend (MetaSeatX11 *seat_x11)
+{
+  return seat_x11->backend;
+}
+
 static ClutterInputDevice *
 get_source_device_checked (MetaSeatX11   *seat,
                            XIDeviceEvent *xev)
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.h b/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.h
index 3deded99b..365a12528 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.h
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.h
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ MetaSeatX11 * meta_seat_x11_new (MetaBackend *backend,
                                  int          opcode,
                                  int          logical_pointer,
                                  int          logical_keyboard);
+
+MetaBackend * meta_seat_x11_get_backend (MetaSeatX11 *seat_x11);
+
 gboolean meta_seat_x11_translate_event (MetaSeatX11  *seat,
 					XEvent       *xevent,
 					ClutterEvent *event);