diff --git a/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager-private.h b/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager-private.h
index f34c01ae1..20bb6b679 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager-private.h
+++ b/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager-private.h
@@ -385,4 +385,7 @@ void meta_monitor_manager_clear_crtc (MetaCrtc *crtc);
 
 gboolean meta_monitor_has_aspect_as_size (MetaMonitor *monitor);
 
+char * meta_monitor_manager_get_vendor_name (MetaMonitorManager *manager,
+                                             const char         *vendor);
+
 #endif /* META_MONITOR_MANAGER_PRIVATE_H */
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c b/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c
index 35ae2c736..6ac7544c0 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c
@@ -3189,3 +3189,23 @@ meta_monitor_manager_get_config_manager (MetaMonitorManager *manager)
 {
   return manager->config_manager;
 }
+
+/**
+ * meta_monitor_manager_get_vendor_name:
+ * @manager: A #MetaMonitorManager object
+ * @vendor:  the PNP ID of the monitor
+ *
+ * Find the full vendor name from the given monitor PNP ID.
+ *
+ * Returns: (transfer full): A string containing the vendor name,
+ *                           or NULL when not found.
+ */
+char *
+meta_monitor_manager_get_vendor_name (MetaMonitorManager *manager,
+                                      const char         *vendor)
+{
+  if (!manager->pnp_ids)
+    manager->pnp_ids = gnome_pnp_ids_new ();
+
+  return gnome_pnp_ids_get_pnp_id (manager->pnp_ids, vendor);
+}