diff --git a/clutter/clutter-layout-manager.c b/clutter/clutter-layout-manager.c
index baf4a10f8..bd1b13108 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-layout-manager.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-layout-manager.c
@@ -166,6 +166,12 @@ layout_manager_real_create_child_meta (ClutterLayoutManager *manager,
   return NULL;
 }
 
+static GType
+layout_manager_real_get_child_meta_type (ClutterLayoutManager *manager)
+{
+  return G_TYPE_INVALID;
+}
+
 static void
 clutter_layout_manager_class_init (ClutterLayoutManagerClass *klass)
 {
@@ -176,6 +182,7 @@ clutter_layout_manager_class_init (ClutterLayoutManagerClass *klass)
   klass->get_preferred_height = layout_manager_real_get_preferred_height;
   klass->allocate = layout_manager_real_allocate;
   klass->create_child_meta = layout_manager_real_create_child_meta;
+  klass->get_child_meta_type = layout_manager_real_get_child_meta_type;
 
   /**
    * ClutterLayoutManager::layout-changed:
diff --git a/clutter/clutter-layout-manager.h b/clutter/clutter-layout-manager.h
index d3333c7cb..b7e53636c 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-layout-manager.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter-layout-manager.h
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ struct _ClutterLayoutManager
  *   on the #ClutterContainer using the layout manager. The implementation
  *   should not take a reference on the container, but just take a weak
  *   reference, to avoid potential leaks due to reference cycles
+ * @get_child_meta_type: virtual function; override to return the #GType
+ *   of the #ClutterLayoutMeta sub-class used by the #ClutterLayoutManager
  * @create_child_meta: virtual function; override to create a
  *   #ClutterChildMeta instance associated to a #ClutterContainer and a
  *   child #ClutterActor, used to maintain layout manager specific properties
@@ -112,6 +114,7 @@ struct _ClutterLayoutManagerClass
   void               (* set_container)        (ClutterLayoutManager   *manager,
                                                ClutterContainer       *container);
 
+  GType              (* get_child_meta_type)  (ClutterLayoutManager   *manager);
   ClutterLayoutMeta *(* create_child_meta)    (ClutterLayoutManager   *manager,
                                                ClutterContainer       *container,
                                                ClutterActor           *actor);