diff --git a/src/libinput.c b/src/libinput.c
index 182c401e..1e31be30 100644
--- a/src/libinput.c
+++ b/src/libinput.c
@@ -1090,3 +1090,27 @@ libinput_device_has_capability(struct libinput_device *device,
 	return evdev_device_has_capability((struct evdev_device *) device,
 					   capability);
 }
+
+LIBINPUT_EXPORT struct libinput_event *
+libinput_event_device_notify_get_base_event(struct libinput_event_device_notify *event)
+{
+	return &event->base;
+}
+
+LIBINPUT_EXPORT struct libinput_event *
+libinput_event_keyboard_get_base_event(struct libinput_event_keyboard *event)
+{
+	return &event->base;
+}
+
+LIBINPUT_EXPORT struct libinput_event *
+libinput_event_pointer_get_base_event(struct libinput_event_pointer *event)
+{
+	return &event->base;
+}
+
+LIBINPUT_EXPORT struct libinput_event *
+libinput_event_touch_get_base_event(struct libinput_event_touch *event)
+{
+	return &event->base;
+}
diff --git a/src/libinput.h b/src/libinput.h
index 5599a6aa..810a66c2 100644
--- a/src/libinput.h
+++ b/src/libinput.h
@@ -275,6 +275,8 @@ libinput_event_get_device(struct libinput_event *event);
  * Return the pointer event that is this input event. If the event type does
  * not match the pointer event types, this function returns NULL.
  *
+ * The inverse of this function is libinput_event_pointer_get_base_event().
+ *
  * @return A pointer event, or NULL for other events
  */
 struct libinput_event_pointer *
@@ -286,6 +288,8 @@ libinput_event_get_pointer_event(struct libinput_event *event);
  * Return the keyboard event that is this input event. If the event type does
  * not match the keyboard event types, this function returns NULL.
  *
+ * The inverse of this function is libinput_event_keyboard_get_base_event().
+ *
  * @return A keyboard event, or NULL for other events
  */
 struct libinput_event_keyboard *
@@ -297,6 +301,8 @@ libinput_event_get_keyboard_event(struct libinput_event *event);
  * Return the touch event that is this input event. If the event type does
  * not match the touch event types, this function returns NULL.
  *
+ * The inverse of this function is libinput_event_touch_get_base_event().
+ *
  * @return A touch event, or NULL for other events
  */
 struct libinput_event_touch *
@@ -308,11 +314,22 @@ libinput_event_get_touch_event(struct libinput_event *event);
  * Return the device event that is this input event. If the event type does
  * not match the device event types, this function returns NULL.
  *
+ * The inverse of this function is
+ * libinput_event_device_notify_get_base_event().
+ *
  * @return A device event, or NULL for other events
  */
 struct libinput_event_device_notify *
 libinput_event_get_device_notify_event(struct libinput_event *event);
 
+/**
+ * @ingroup event
+ *
+ * @return The generic libinput_event of this event
+ */
+struct libinput_event *
+libinput_event_device_notify_get_base_event(struct libinput_event_device_notify *event);
+
 /**
  * @defgroup event_keyboard Keyboard events
  *
@@ -344,6 +361,15 @@ libinput_event_keyboard_get_key(struct libinput_event_keyboard *event);
 enum libinput_keyboard_key_state
 libinput_event_keyboard_get_key_state(struct libinput_event_keyboard *event);
 
+
+/**
+ * @ingroup event_keyboard
+ *
+ * @return The generic libinput_event of this event
+ */
+struct libinput_event *
+libinput_event_keyboard_get_base_event(struct libinput_event_keyboard *event);
+
 /**
  * @defgroup event_pointer Pointer events
  *
@@ -541,6 +567,15 @@ libinput_event_pointer_get_axis(struct libinput_event_pointer *event);
 li_fixed_t
 libinput_event_pointer_get_axis_value(struct libinput_event_pointer *event);
 
+/**
+ * @ingroup event_pointer
+ *
+ * @return The generic libinput_event of this event
+ */
+struct libinput_event *
+libinput_event_pointer_get_base_event(struct libinput_event_pointer *event);
+
+
 /**
  * @defgroup event_touch Touch events
  *
@@ -661,6 +696,14 @@ li_fixed_t
 libinput_event_touch_get_y_transformed(struct libinput_event_touch *event,
 				       uint32_t height);
 
+/**
+ * @ingroup event_touch
+ *
+ * @return The generic libinput_event of this event
+ */
+struct libinput_event *
+libinput_event_touch_get_base_event(struct libinput_event_touch *event);
+
 /**
  * @defgroup base Initialization and manipulation of libinput contexts
  */