diff --git a/src/backends/meta-cursor-tracker.c b/src/backends/meta-cursor-tracker.c
index 6b7849d55..88607bf4d 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-cursor-tracker.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-cursor-tracker.c
@@ -418,6 +418,12 @@ meta_cursor_tracker_get_pointer (MetaCursorTracker   *tracker,
     get_pointer_position_gdk (x, y, (int*)mods);
 }
 
+gboolean
+meta_cursor_tracker_get_pointer_visible (MetaCursorTracker *tracker)
+{
+  return tracker->is_showing;
+}
+
 void
 meta_cursor_tracker_set_pointer_visible (MetaCursorTracker *tracker,
                                          gboolean           visible)
diff --git a/src/meta/meta-cursor-tracker.h b/src/meta/meta-cursor-tracker.h
index 29b1aab5a..2f51115e4 100644
--- a/src/meta/meta-cursor-tracker.h
+++ b/src/meta/meta-cursor-tracker.h
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ void           meta_cursor_tracker_get_pointer (MetaCursorTracker   *tracker,
                                                 int                 *y,
                                                 ClutterModifierType *mods);
 
+META_EXPORT
+gboolean       meta_cursor_tracker_get_pointer_visible (MetaCursorTracker *tracker);
+
 META_EXPORT
 void           meta_cursor_tracker_set_pointer_visible (MetaCursorTracker *tracker,
                                                         gboolean           visible);