diff --git a/cogl/cogl-vertex-buffer.h b/cogl/cogl-vertex-buffer.h
index d7f320c07..4b8c47c6e 100644
--- a/cogl/cogl-vertex-buffer.h
+++ b/cogl/cogl-vertex-buffer.h
@@ -457,6 +457,21 @@ cogl_vertex_buffer_indices_get_for_quads (unsigned int n_indices);
 gboolean
 cogl_is_vertex_buffer (CoglHandle handle);
 
+/**
+ * cogl_is_vertex_buffer_indices:
+ * @handle: a #CoglHandle
+ *
+ * Checks whether @handle is a handle to the indices for a vertex
+ * buffer object
+ *
+ * Return value: %TRUE if the handle is indices, and %FALSE
+ *   otherwise
+ *
+ * Since: 1.4
+ */
+gboolean
+cogl_is_vertex_buffer_indices (CoglHandle handle);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __COGL_VERTEX_BUFFER_H__ */
diff --git a/doc/reference/cogl/cogl-sections.txt b/doc/reference/cogl/cogl-sections.txt
index 18282bec3..b75a10e4f 100644
--- a/doc/reference/cogl/cogl-sections.txt
+++ b/doc/reference/cogl/cogl-sections.txt
@@ -432,6 +432,7 @@ CoglIndicesType
 cogl_vertex_buffer_indices_new
 cogl_vertex_buffer_draw_elements
 cogl_vertex_buffer_indices_get_for_quads
+cogl_is_vertex_buffer_indices
 
 <SUBSECTION Private>
 cogl_vertex_buffer_indices_get_type