diff --git a/src/backends/meta-backend.c b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
index def62c49a..0788cf102 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-backend.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
@@ -619,7 +619,8 @@ meta_backend_real_post_init (MetaBackend *backend)
   priv->dbus_session_watcher = g_object_new (META_TYPE_DBUS_SESSION_WATCHER, NULL);
   priv->screen_cast = meta_screen_cast_new (backend,
                                             priv->dbus_session_watcher);
-  priv->remote_desktop = meta_remote_desktop_new (priv->dbus_session_watcher);
+  priv->remote_desktop = meta_remote_desktop_new (backend,
+                                                  priv->dbus_session_watcher);
   priv->remote_access_controller =
     meta_remote_access_controller_new (priv->remote_desktop, priv->screen_cast);
 #endif /* HAVE_REMOTE_DESKTOP */
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-remote-desktop.c b/src/backends/meta-remote-desktop.c
index 1b73f4a91..0c9d4f0ad 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-remote-desktop.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-remote-desktop.c
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ struct _MetaRemoteDesktop
 {
   MetaDBusRemoteDesktopSkeleton parent;
 
+  MetaBackend *backend;
   int dbus_name_id;
 
   int inhibit_count;
@@ -100,6 +101,12 @@ meta_remote_desktop_uninhibit (MetaRemoteDesktop *remote_desktop)
   remote_desktop->inhibit_count--;
 }
 
+MetaBackend *
+meta_remote_desktop_get_backend (MetaRemoteDesktop *remote_desktop)
+{
+  return remote_desktop->backend;
+}
+
 GDBusConnection *
 meta_remote_desktop_get_connection (MetaRemoteDesktop *remote_desktop)
 {
@@ -260,11 +267,13 @@ meta_remote_desktop_finalize (GObject *object)
 }
 
 MetaRemoteDesktop *
-meta_remote_desktop_new (MetaDbusSessionWatcher *session_watcher)
+meta_remote_desktop_new (MetaBackend            *backend,
+                         MetaDbusSessionWatcher *session_watcher)
 {
   MetaRemoteDesktop *remote_desktop;
 
   remote_desktop = g_object_new (META_TYPE_REMOTE_DESKTOP, NULL);
+  remote_desktop->backend = backend;
   remote_desktop->session_watcher = session_watcher;
 
   return remote_desktop;
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-remote-desktop.h b/src/backends/meta-remote-desktop.h
index 210a84a04..3a7f38563 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-remote-desktop.h
+++ b/src/backends/meta-remote-desktop.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 #include <glib-object.h>
 
+#include "backends/meta-backend-types.h"
 #include "backends/meta-dbus-session-watcher.h"
 
 #include "meta-dbus-remote-desktop.h"
@@ -40,11 +41,14 @@ void meta_remote_desktop_inhibit (MetaRemoteDesktop *remote_desktop);
 
 void meta_remote_desktop_uninhibit (MetaRemoteDesktop *remote_desktop);
 
+MetaBackend * meta_remote_desktop_get_backend (MetaRemoteDesktop *remote_desktop);
+
 MetaRemoteDesktopSession * meta_remote_desktop_get_session (MetaRemoteDesktop *remote_desktop,
                                                             const char        *session_id);
 
 GDBusConnection * meta_remote_desktop_get_connection (MetaRemoteDesktop *remote_desktop);
 
-MetaRemoteDesktop * meta_remote_desktop_new (MetaDbusSessionWatcher *session_watcher);
+MetaRemoteDesktop * meta_remote_desktop_new (MetaBackend            *backend,
+                                             MetaDbusSessionWatcher *session_watcher);
 
 #endif /* META_REMOTE_DESKTOP_H */