diff --git a/gsk/gskprofiler.c b/gsk/gskprofiler.c
index 253a0b6282..a18362a6c8 100644
--- a/gsk/gskprofiler.c
+++ b/gsk/gskprofiler.c
@@ -365,6 +365,19 @@ gsk_profiler_timer_get (GskProfiler *profiler,
   return timer->value;
 }
 
+gint64
+gsk_profiler_timer_get_start (GskProfiler *profiler,
+                              GQuark       timer_id)
+{
+  NamedTimer *timer;
+
+  timer = gsk_profiler_get_timer (profiler, timer_id);
+  if (timer == NULL)
+    return 0;
+
+  return timer->start_time;
+}
+
 void
 gsk_profiler_reset (GskProfiler *profiler)
 {
diff --git a/gsk/gskprofilerprivate.h b/gsk/gskprofilerprivate.h
index ca0f44518b..ff71d4c947 100644
--- a/gsk/gskprofilerprivate.h
+++ b/gsk/gskprofilerprivate.h
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ gint64          gsk_profiler_counter_get        (GskProfiler *profiler,
                                                  GQuark       counter_id);
 gint64          gsk_profiler_timer_get          (GskProfiler *profiler,
                                                  GQuark       timer_id);
+gint64          gsk_profiler_timer_get_start    (GskProfiler *profiler,
+                                                 GQuark       timer_id);
 
 void            gsk_profiler_reset              (GskProfiler *profiler);