diff --git a/dix/events.c b/dix/events.c
index 4826781d7..f6d92cf6a 100644
--- a/dix/events.c
+++ b/dix/events.c
@@ -328,6 +328,13 @@ IsMaster(DeviceIntPtr dev)
     return dev->type == MASTER_POINTER || dev->type == MASTER_KEYBOARD;
 }
 
+Bool
+IsFloating(DeviceIntPtr dev)
+{
+    return GetMaster(dev, MASTER_KEYBOARD) == NULL;
+}
+
+
 /**
  * Max event opcode.
  */
diff --git a/include/dix.h b/include/dix.h
index 12e4b5977..3f99098a2 100644
--- a/include/dix.h
+++ b/include/dix.h
@@ -570,6 +570,7 @@ extern Bool _X_EXPORT IsPointerDevice( DeviceIntPtr dev);
 extern Bool _X_EXPORT IsKeyboardDevice(DeviceIntPtr dev);
 extern Bool IsPointerEvent(InternalEvent *event);
 extern _X_EXPORT Bool IsMaster(DeviceIntPtr dev);
+extern _X_EXPORT Bool IsFloating(DeviceIntPtr dev);
 
 extern _X_HIDDEN void CopyKeyClass(DeviceIntPtr device, DeviceIntPtr master);
 extern _X_HIDDEN int CorePointerProc(DeviceIntPtr dev, int what);