diff --git a/clutter/clutter-actor.c b/clutter/clutter-actor.c
index 66e2812c8..5333fc452 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-actor.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-actor.c
@@ -9184,3 +9184,35 @@ clutter_actor_get_transformation_matrix (ClutterActor *self,
 
   CLUTTER_ACTOR_GET_CLASS (self)->apply_transform (self, matrix);
 }
+
+/**
+ * clutter_actor_is_in_clone_paint:
+ * @self: a #ClutterActor
+ *
+ * Checks whether @self is being currently painted by a #ClutterClone
+ *
+ * This function is useful only inside the ::paint virtual function
+ * implementations or within handlers for the #ClutterActor::paint
+ * signal
+ *
+ * This function should not be used by applications
+ *
+ * Return value: %TRUE if the #ClutterActor is currently being painted
+ *   by a #ClutterClone, and %FALSE otherwise
+ *
+ * Since: 1.0
+ */
+gboolean
+clutter_actor_is_in_clone_paint (ClutterActor *self)
+{
+  g_return_val_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR (self), FALSE);
+
+  /* XXX - keep in sync with the overrides set by ClutterClone:
+   *
+   *  - opacity_parent != NULL
+   *  - enable_model_view_transform == FALSE
+   */
+
+  return self->priv->opacity_parent != NULL &&
+         !self->priv->enable_model_view_transform;
+}
diff --git a/clutter/clutter-actor.h b/clutter/clutter-actor.h
index 72f7893da..18f776685 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-actor.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter-actor.h
@@ -520,6 +520,8 @@ PangoLayout * clutter_actor_create_pango_layout       (ClutterActor        *self
 void clutter_actor_get_transformation_matrix          (ClutterActor        *self,
                                                        CoglMatrix          *matrix);
 
+gboolean clutter_actor_is_in_clone_paint              (ClutterActor        *self);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __CLUTTER_ACTOR_H__ */
diff --git a/doc/reference/clutter/clutter-sections.txt b/doc/reference/clutter/clutter-sections.txt
index 109a66216..2e38c6be5 100644
--- a/doc/reference/clutter/clutter-sections.txt
+++ b/doc/reference/clutter/clutter-sections.txt
@@ -387,6 +387,7 @@ clutter_actor_grab_key_focus
 clutter_actor_get_pango_context
 clutter_actor_create_pango_context
 clutter_actor_create_pango_layout
+clutter_actor_is_in_clone_paint
 
 <SUBSECTION>
 ClutterActorBox