diff --git a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.c b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.c
index d53dd7884f0..c1ce408119f 100644
--- a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.c
+++ b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.c
@@ -91,6 +91,23 @@ util_format_is_luminance(enum pipe_format format)
    return FALSE;
 }
 
+boolean
+util_format_is_alpha(enum pipe_format format)
+{
+   const struct util_format_description *desc =
+      util_format_description(format);
+
+   if ((desc->colorspace == UTIL_FORMAT_COLORSPACE_RGB ||
+        desc->colorspace == UTIL_FORMAT_COLORSPACE_SRGB) &&
+       desc->swizzle[0] == UTIL_FORMAT_SWIZZLE_0 &&
+       desc->swizzle[1] == UTIL_FORMAT_SWIZZLE_0 &&
+       desc->swizzle[2] == UTIL_FORMAT_SWIZZLE_0 &&
+       desc->swizzle[3] == UTIL_FORMAT_SWIZZLE_X) {
+      return TRUE;
+   }
+   return FALSE;
+}
+
 boolean
 util_format_is_pure_integer(enum pipe_format format)
 {
diff --git a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.h b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.h
index df31400af90..621574c9673 100644
--- a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.h
+++ b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.h
@@ -661,6 +661,8 @@ util_format_has_alpha(enum pipe_format format);
 boolean
 util_format_is_luminance(enum pipe_format format);
 
+boolean
+util_format_is_alpha(enum pipe_format format);
 
 boolean
 util_format_is_luminance_alpha(enum pipe_format format);