diff --git a/gdk/gdkglcontext.c b/gdk/gdkglcontext.c
index 4d71353df2..874f1adf07 100644
--- a/gdk/gdkglcontext.c
+++ b/gdk/gdkglcontext.c
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ typedef struct {
   guint extensions_checked : 1;
   guint debug_enabled : 1;
   guint forward_compatible : 1;
+  guint is_legacy : 1;
 
   GdkGLContextPaintData *paint_data;
 } GdkGLContextPrivate;
@@ -554,6 +555,38 @@ gdk_gl_context_get_required_version (GdkGLContext *context,
     *minor = min;
 }
 
+/**
+ * gdk_gl_context_is_legacy:
+ * @context: a #GdkGLContext
+ *
+ * Whether the #GdkGLContext is in legacy mode or not.
+ *
+ * The #GdkGLContext must be realized.
+ *
+ * Returns: %TRUE if the GL context is in legacy mode
+ *
+ * Since: 3.20
+ */
+gboolean
+gdk_gl_context_is_legacy (GdkGLContext *context)
+{
+  GdkGLContextPrivate *priv = gdk_gl_context_get_instance_private (context);
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (GDK_IS_GL_CONTEXT (context), FALSE);
+  g_return_val_if_fail (priv->realized, FALSE);
+
+  return priv->is_legacy;
+}
+
+void
+gdk_gl_context_set_is_legacy (GdkGLContext *context,
+                              gboolean      is_legacy)
+{
+  GdkGLContextPrivate *priv = gdk_gl_context_get_instance_private (context);
+
+  priv->is_legacy = !!is_legacy;
+}
+
 /**
  * gdk_gl_context_realize:
  * @context: a #GdkGLContext
diff --git a/gdk/gdkglcontext.h b/gdk/gdkglcontext.h
index c9603ea762..daacd1e0c7 100644
--- a/gdk/gdkglcontext.h
+++ b/gdk/gdkglcontext.h
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_3_16
 void                    gdk_gl_context_get_version              (GdkGLContext  *context,
                                                                  int           *major,
                                                                  int           *minor);
+GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_3_20
+gboolean                gdk_gl_context_is_legacy                (GdkGLContext  *context);
 
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_3_16
 void                    gdk_gl_context_set_required_version     (GdkGLContext  *context,
diff --git a/gdk/gdkglcontextprivate.h b/gdk/gdkglcontextprivate.h
index 668dd0e2ac..a4f19d649e 100644
--- a/gdk/gdkglcontextprivate.h
+++ b/gdk/gdkglcontextprivate.h
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ typedef struct {
   GdkGLContextProgram *current_program;
 } GdkGLContextPaintData;
 
+void                    gdk_gl_context_set_is_legacy            (GdkGLContext    *context,
+                                                                 gboolean         is_legacy);
+
 void                    gdk_gl_context_upload_texture           (GdkGLContext    *context,
                                                                  cairo_surface_t *image_surface,
                                                                  int              width,