diff --git a/gtk/gtkwidget.c b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
index 2cedb2508f..61ae38f0b5 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkwidget.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
@@ -11415,6 +11415,23 @@ gtk_widget_add_controller (GtkWidget          *widget,
     gtk_list_list_model_item_added_at (priv->controller_observer, priv->controllers->len - 1);
 }
 
+void
+gtk_widget_prepend_controller (GtkWidget          *widget,
+                               GtkEventController *controller)
+{
+  GtkWidgetPrivate *priv = gtk_widget_get_instance_private (widget);
+
+  GTK_EVENT_CONTROLLER_GET_CLASS (controller)->set_widget (controller, widget);
+
+  if (G_UNLIKELY (!priv->controllers))
+    priv->controllers = g_ptr_array_new ();
+
+  g_ptr_array_insert (priv->controllers, 0, controller);
+
+  if (priv->controller_observer)
+    gtk_list_list_model_item_added_at (priv->controller_observer, 0);
+}
+
 /**
  * gtk_widget_remove_controller:
  * @widget: a #GtkWidget
diff --git a/gtk/gtkwidgetprivate.h b/gtk/gtkwidgetprivate.h
index e7688a65cd..d281dd0f43 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkwidgetprivate.h
+++ b/gtk/gtkwidgetprivate.h
@@ -346,6 +346,9 @@ gboolean          gtk_widget_run_controllers               (GtkWidget
                                                             double               x,
                                                             double               y,
                                                             GtkPropagationPhase  phase);
+
+void              gtk_widget_prepend_controller            (GtkWidget             *widget,
+                                                            GtkEventController    *controller);
 void              gtk_widget_handle_crossing               (GtkWidget             *widget,
                                                             const GtkCrossingData *crossing,
                                                             double                 x,