diff --git a/src/backends/meta-stage-view.c b/src/backends/meta-stage-view.c
index fef051f81..45d696931 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-stage-view.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-stage-view.c
@@ -241,3 +241,12 @@ meta_stage_view_uninhibit_cursor_overlay (MetaStageView *view)
 
   priv->inhibit_cursor_overlay_count--;
 }
+
+gboolean
+meta_stage_view_is_cursor_overlay_inhibited (MetaStageView *view)
+{
+  MetaStageViewPrivate *priv =
+    meta_stage_view_get_instance_private (view);
+
+  return priv->inhibit_cursor_overlay_count > 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-stage-view.h b/src/backends/meta-stage-view.h
index 83836ed96..4a897c38b 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-stage-view.h
+++ b/src/backends/meta-stage-view.h
@@ -28,3 +28,5 @@ G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (MetaStageView,
 void meta_stage_view_inhibit_cursor_overlay (MetaStageView *view);
 
 void meta_stage_view_uninhibit_cursor_overlay (MetaStageView *view);
+
+gboolean meta_stage_view_is_cursor_overlay_inhibited (MetaStageView *view);