diff --git a/gtk/gtkprintbackend.c b/gtk/gtkprintbackend.c
index a6f44c08ca..eadd4125d5 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkprintbackend.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkprintbackend.c
@@ -471,6 +471,19 @@ gtk_print_backend_get_printer_list (GtkPrintBackend *backend)
   return result;
 }
 
+GListModel *
+gtk_print_backend_get_printers (GtkPrintBackend *backend)
+{
+  if (!backend->priv->printer_list_requested)
+    {
+      if (GTK_PRINT_BACKEND_GET_CLASS (backend)->request_printer_list)
+	GTK_PRINT_BACKEND_GET_CLASS (backend)->request_printer_list (backend);
+      backend->priv->printer_list_requested = TRUE;
+    }
+
+  return G_LIST_MODEL (backend->priv->printers);
+}
+
 gboolean
 gtk_print_backend_printer_list_is_done (GtkPrintBackend *backend)
 {
diff --git a/gtk/gtkprintbackendprivate.h b/gtk/gtkprintbackendprivate.h
index 1c6b91e228..c6505b7c7c 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkprintbackendprivate.h
+++ b/gtk/gtkprintbackendprivate.h
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@ GType   gtk_print_backend_get_type       (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_ALL
 GList      *gtk_print_backend_get_printer_list     (GtkPrintBackend         *print_backend);
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_ALL
+GListModel *gtk_print_backend_get_printers         (GtkPrintBackend         *print_backend);
+GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_ALL
 gboolean    gtk_print_backend_printer_list_is_done (GtkPrintBackend         *print_backend);
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_ALL
 GtkPrinter *gtk_print_backend_find_printer         (GtkPrintBackend         *print_backend,