diff --git a/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h b/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h
index d18d6da64..a9e7ae270 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ struct _ClutterBackendClass
                                                 gpointer            native,
                                                 ClutterEvent       *event);
 
+  PangoDirection        (* get_keymap_direction) (ClutterBackend   *backend);
+
   /* signals */
   void (* resolution_changed) (ClutterBackend *backend);
   void (* font_changed)       (ClutterBackend *backend);
@@ -138,6 +140,8 @@ gfloat                  _clutter_backend_get_units_per_em               (Clutter
                                                                          PangoFontDescription   *font_desc);
 gint32                  _clutter_backend_get_units_serial               (ClutterBackend         *backend);
 
+PangoDirection          _clutter_backend_get_keymap_direction           (ClutterBackend         *backend);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __CLUTTER_BACKEND_PRIVATE_H__ */
diff --git a/clutter/clutter-backend.c b/clutter/clutter-backend.c
index 032739eb8..0ceb2e27d 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-backend.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-backend.c
@@ -1404,3 +1404,15 @@ clutter_set_windowing_backend (const char *backend_type)
 
   allowed_backend = g_intern_string (backend_type);
 }
+
+PangoDirection
+_clutter_backend_get_keymap_direction (ClutterBackend *backend)
+{
+  ClutterBackendClass *klass;
+
+  klass = CLUTTER_BACKEND_GET_CLASS (backend);
+  if (klass->get_keymap_direction != NULL)
+    return klass->get_keymap_direction (backend);
+
+  return PANGO_DIRECTION_NEUTRAL;
+}