diff --git a/src/core/screen.c b/src/core/screen.c
index 7a39496fa..4b41dc3a6 100644
--- a/src/core/screen.c
+++ b/src/core/screen.c
@@ -2040,6 +2040,14 @@ meta_screen_get_monitor_for_window (MetaScreen *screen,
   return meta_screen_get_monitor_for_rect (screen, &window_rect);
 }
 
+int
+meta_screen_get_monitor_index_for_rect (MetaScreen    *screen,
+                                        MetaRectangle *rect)
+{
+  const MetaMonitorInfo *monitor = meta_screen_get_monitor_for_rect (screen, rect);
+  return monitor->number;
+}
+
 const MetaMonitorInfo* 
 meta_screen_get_monitor_neighbor (MetaScreen         *screen,
                                   int                 which_monitor,
diff --git a/src/meta/screen.h b/src/meta/screen.h
index f614ba147..ad647624a 100644
--- a/src/meta/screen.h
+++ b/src/meta/screen.h
@@ -81,6 +81,10 @@ int  meta_screen_get_current_monitor  (MetaScreen    *screen);
 void meta_screen_get_monitor_geometry (MetaScreen    *screen,
                                        int            monitor,
                                        MetaRectangle *geometry);
+
+int meta_screen_get_monitor_index_for_rect (MetaScreen    *screen,
+                                            MetaRectangle *rect);
+
 void meta_screen_focus_default_window (MetaScreen *screen,
                                        guint32     timestamp);