diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-clock.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-clock.h
index 6a940f48b..6ae0ad3bd 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-clock.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-clock.h
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@ typedef enum _ClutterFrameResult
   CLUTTER_FRAME_RESULT_IDLE,
 } ClutterFrameResult;
 
+typedef enum _ClutterFrameHint
+{
+  CLUTTER_FRAME_HINT_NONE                     = 0,
+  CLUTTER_FRAME_HINT_DIRECT_SCANOUT_ATTEMPTED = 1 << 0,
+} ClutterFrameHint;
+
 #define CLUTTER_TYPE_FRAME_CLOCK (clutter_frame_clock_get_type ())
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
 G_DECLARE_FINAL_TYPE (ClutterFrameClock, clutter_frame_clock,
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-private.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-private.h
index ef66b874e..ce140560a 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-private.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-private.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ struct _ClutterFrame
 
   gboolean has_result;
   ClutterFrameResult result;
+  ClutterFrameHint hints;
 };
 
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame.c
index 7436f9f18..53c289b2c 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame.c
@@ -115,3 +115,16 @@ clutter_frame_set_result (ClutterFrame       *frame,
   frame->result = result;
   frame->has_result = TRUE;
 }
+
+void
+clutter_frame_set_hint (ClutterFrame     *frame,
+                        ClutterFrameHint  hint)
+{
+  frame->hints |= hint;
+}
+
+ClutterFrameHint
+clutter_frame_get_hints (ClutterFrame *frame)
+{
+  return frame->hints;
+}
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame.h
index 34f0770bd..c7b3d02ac 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame.h
@@ -54,4 +54,11 @@ void clutter_frame_set_result (ClutterFrame       *frame,
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
 gboolean clutter_frame_has_result (ClutterFrame *frame);
 
+CLUTTER_EXPORT
+void clutter_frame_set_hint (ClutterFrame     *frame,
+                             ClutterFrameHint  hint);
+
+CLUTTER_EXPORT
+ClutterFrameHint clutter_frame_get_hints (ClutterFrame *frame);
+
 G_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_CLEANUP_FUNC (ClutterFrame, clutter_frame_unref)