diff --git a/src/core/window.c b/src/core/window.c
index 3b175607d..d721972bb 100644
--- a/src/core/window.c
+++ b/src/core/window.c
@@ -8665,3 +8665,12 @@ meta_window_set_compositor_private (MetaWindow *window, void *priv)
   window->compositor_private = priv;
 }
 
+const char *
+meta_window_get_role (MetaWindow *window)
+{
+  if (!window)
+    return NULL;
+
+  return window->role;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/include/window.h b/src/include/window.h
index e43973cac..b99816dca 100644
--- a/src/include/window.h
+++ b/src/include/window.h
@@ -95,4 +95,6 @@ void meta_window_change_workspace_by_index (MetaWindow *window,
 void *meta_window_get_compositor_private (MetaWindow *window);
 void meta_window_set_compositor_private (MetaWindow *window, void *priv);
 void meta_window_configure_notify (MetaWindow *window, XConfigureEvent *event);
+const char *meta_window_get_role (MetaWindow *window);
+
 #endif