diff --git a/src/core/screen.c b/src/core/screen.c
index 7b5bf7c4f..acfc3e49d 100644
--- a/src/core/screen.c
+++ b/src/core/screen.c
@@ -1125,6 +1125,28 @@ meta_screen_remove_workspace (MetaScreen *screen, MetaWorkspace *workspace,
   meta_screen_queue_workarea_recalc (screen);
 }
 
+MetaWorkspace *
+meta_screen_append_new_workspace (MetaScreen *screen, gboolean activate,
+                                  guint32 timestamp)
+{
+  MetaWorkspace *w;
+
+  /* This also adds the workspace to the screen list */
+  w = meta_workspace_new (screen);
+
+  if (!w)
+    return NULL;
+
+  if (activate)
+    meta_workspace_activate (w, timestamp);
+
+  set_number_of_spaces_hint (screen, g_list_length (screen->workspaces));
+
+  meta_screen_queue_workarea_recalc (screen);
+
+  return w;
+}
+
 
 static void
 update_num_workspaces (MetaScreen *screen,
diff --git a/src/include/screen.h b/src/include/screen.h
index ecf60b869..8618edf46 100644
--- a/src/include/screen.h
+++ b/src/include/screen.h
@@ -53,4 +53,8 @@ void meta_screen_remove_workspace (MetaScreen    *screen,
                                    MetaWorkspace *workspace,
                                    guint32        timestamp);
 
+MetaWorkspace *meta_screen_append_new_workspace (MetaScreen    *screen,
+                                                 gboolean       activate,
+                                                 guint32        timestamp);
+
 #endif