diff --git a/cogl.h b/cogl.h
index 09c192326..1385e1243 100644
--- a/cogl.h
+++ b/cogl.h
@@ -198,6 +198,9 @@ cogl_get_projection_matrix (ClutterFixed m[16]);
 void
 cogl_get_viewport (ClutterFixed v[4]);
 
+void
+cogl_get_bitmasks (gint *red, gint *green, gint *blue, gint *alpha);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __COGL_H__ */
diff --git a/gl/cogl.c b/gl/cogl.c
index df3acb4a1..7800dc07e 100644
--- a/gl/cogl.c
+++ b/gl/cogl.c
@@ -636,3 +636,16 @@ cogl_get_viewport (ClutterFixed v[4])
   v[2] = CLUTTER_FLOAT_TO_FIXED (vd[2]);
   v[3] = CLUTTER_FLOAT_TO_FIXED (vd[3]);
 }
+
+void
+cogl_get_bitmasks (gint *red, gint *green, gint *blue, gint *alpha)
+{
+  if (red)
+    GE( glGetIntegerv(GL_RED_BITS, red) );
+  if (green)
+    GE( glGetIntegerv(GL_GREEN_BITS, green) );
+  if (blue)
+    GE( glGetIntegerv(GL_BLUE_BITS, blue) );
+  if (alpha)
+    GE( glGetIntegerv(GL_ALPHA_BITS, alpha ) );
+}
diff --git a/gles/cogl.c b/gles/cogl.c
index 123fcdcc5..f7d874eac 100644
--- a/gles/cogl.c
+++ b/gles/cogl.c
@@ -566,3 +566,16 @@ cogl_get_viewport (ClutterFixed v[4])
 {
   glGetFixedv(GL_VIEWPORT, &v[0]);
 }
+
+void
+cogl_get_bitmasks (gint *red, gint *green, gint *blue, gint *alpha)
+{
+  if (red)
+    GE( glGetInteger(GL_RED_BITS, red) );
+  if (green)
+    GE( glGetInteger(GL_GREEN_BITS, green) );
+  if (blue)
+    GE( glGetInteger(GL_BLUE_BITS, blue) );
+  if (alpha)
+    GE( glGetInteger(GL_ALPHA_BITS, alpha ) );
+}