diff --git a/clutter/clutter-backend.c b/clutter/clutter-backend.c
index 1a92267d0..7e32ac55f 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-backend.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-backend.c
@@ -518,6 +518,36 @@ _clutter_backend_get_units_per_em (ClutterBackend       *backend,
   return priv->units_per_em;
 }
 
+void
+_clutter_backend_copy_event_data (ClutterBackend *backend,
+                                  ClutterEvent   *src,
+                                  ClutterEvent   *dest)
+{
+  ClutterBackendClass *klass;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_BACKEND (backend));
+  g_return_if_fail (src != NULL);
+  g_return_if_fail (dest != NULL);
+
+  klass = CLUTTER_BACKEND_GET_CLASS (backend);
+  if (klass->copy_event_data != NULL)
+    klass->copy_event_data (backend, src, dest);
+}
+
+void
+_clutter_backend_free_event_data (ClutterBackend *backend,
+                                  ClutterEvent   *event)
+{
+  ClutterBackendClass *klass;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_BACKEND (backend));
+  g_return_if_fail (event != NULL);
+
+  klass = CLUTTER_BACKEND_GET_CLASS (backend);
+  if (klass->free_event_data != NULL)
+    klass->free_event_data (backend, event);
+}
+
 /**
  * clutter_get_default_backend:
  *
diff --git a/clutter/clutter-backend.h b/clutter/clutter-backend.h
index 1012664d1..21d2ac39f 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-backend.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter-backend.h
@@ -85,6 +85,12 @@ struct _ClutterBackendClass
                                                 ClutterStage    *stage);
   ClutterDeviceManager *(* get_device_manager) (ClutterBackend  *backend);
 
+  void                  (* copy_event_data)    (ClutterBackend  *backend,
+                                                ClutterEvent    *src,
+                                                ClutterEvent    *dest);
+  void                  (* free_event_data)    (ClutterBackend  *backend,
+                                                ClutterEvent    *event);
+
   /* signals */
   void (* resolution_changed) (ClutterBackend *backend);
   void (* font_changed)       (ClutterBackend *backend);
diff --git a/clutter/clutter-event.c b/clutter/clutter-event.c
index d6755cb22..f71b21312 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-event.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-event.c
@@ -43,6 +43,52 @@
  * be synthesized by Clutter itself or by the application code.
  */
 
+typedef struct _ClutterEventPrivate {
+  ClutterEvent base;
+
+  gpointer platform_data;
+} ClutterEventPrivate;
+
+static GHashTable *all_events = NULL;
+
+static gboolean
+is_event_allocated (const ClutterEvent *event)
+{
+  if (all_events == NULL)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  return g_hash_table_lookup (all_events, event) != NULL;
+}
+
+/*
+ * _clutter_event_get_platform_data:
+ * @event: a #ClutterEvent
+ *
+ * Retrieves the pointer to platform-specific data inside an event
+ *
+ * Return value: a pointer to platform-specific data
+ *
+ * Since: 1.4
+ */
+gpointer
+_clutter_event_get_platform_data (const ClutterEvent *event)
+{
+  if (!is_event_allocated (event))
+    return NULL;
+
+  return ((ClutterEventPrivate *) event)->platform_data;
+}
+
+void
+_clutter_event_set_platform_data (ClutterEvent *event,
+                                  gpointer      data)
+{
+  if (!is_event_allocated (event))
+    return;
+
+  ((ClutterEventPrivate *) event)->platform_data = data;
+}
+
 /**
  * clutter_event_type:
  * @event: a #ClutterEvent
@@ -606,10 +652,18 @@ ClutterEvent *
 clutter_event_new (ClutterEventType type)
 {
   ClutterEvent *new_event;
+  ClutterEventPrivate *priv;
 
-  new_event = g_slice_new0 (ClutterEvent);
+  priv = g_slice_new0 (ClutterEventPrivate);
+
+  new_event = (ClutterEvent *) priv;
   new_event->type = new_event->any.type = type;
 
+  if (all_events == NULL)
+    all_events = g_hash_table_new (NULL, NULL);
+
+  g_hash_table_replace (all_events, priv, GUINT_TO_POINTER (1));
+
   return new_event;
 }
 
@@ -631,6 +685,11 @@ clutter_event_copy (ClutterEvent *event)
   new_event = clutter_event_new (CLUTTER_NOTHING);
   *new_event = *event;
 
+  if (is_event_allocated (event))
+    _clutter_backend_copy_event_data (clutter_get_default_backend (),
+                                      event,
+                                      new_event);
+
   return new_event;
 }
 
@@ -644,7 +703,12 @@ void
 clutter_event_free (ClutterEvent *event)
 {
   if (G_LIKELY (event != NULL))
-    g_slice_free (ClutterEvent, event);
+    {
+      _clutter_backend_free_event_data (clutter_get_default_backend (), event);
+
+      g_hash_table_remove (all_events, event);
+      g_slice_free (ClutterEventPrivate, (ClutterEventPrivate *) event);
+    }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/clutter/clutter-private.h b/clutter/clutter-private.h
index 40d717c74..666428b4d 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-private.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter-private.h
@@ -245,7 +245,6 @@ int      _clutter_stage_get_pending_swaps      (ClutterStage *stage);
 
 gboolean _clutter_stage_has_full_redraw_queued (ClutterStage *stage);
 
-
 /* vfuncs implemented by backend */
 GType         _clutter_backend_impl_get_type  (void);
 
@@ -270,6 +269,12 @@ gboolean      _clutter_backend_post_parse     (ClutterBackend  *backend,
                                                GError         **error);
 void          _clutter_backend_init_events    (ClutterBackend  *backend);
 
+void          _clutter_backend_copy_event_data (ClutterBackend  *backend,
+                                                ClutterEvent    *src,
+                                                ClutterEvent    *dest);
+void          _clutter_backend_free_event_data (ClutterBackend  *backend,
+                                                ClutterEvent    *event);
+
 ClutterFeatureFlags _clutter_backend_get_features (ClutterBackend *backend);
 
 gfloat        _clutter_backend_get_units_per_em   (ClutterBackend       *backend,
@@ -341,6 +346,10 @@ void     _clutter_effect_post_paint (ClutterEffect *effect);
 
 GType _clutter_layout_manager_get_child_meta_type (ClutterLayoutManager *manager);
 
+void     _clutter_event_set_platform_data (ClutterEvent       *event,
+                                           gpointer            data);
+gpointer _clutter_event_get_platform_data (const ClutterEvent *event);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* _HAVE_CLUTTER_PRIVATE_H */