diff --git a/gtk/gtkmenuitem.c b/gtk/gtkmenuitem.c
index 125d6df373..4f04f6c382 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkmenuitem.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkmenuitem.c
@@ -709,11 +709,12 @@ gtk_menu_item_get_preferred_width (GtkWidget *widget,
 
   if (child != NULL && gtk_widget_get_visible (child))
     {
+      GtkMenuItemPrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (menu_item);
       gint child_min, child_nat;
 
       gtk_widget_get_preferred_width (child, &child_min, &child_nat);
 
-      if (menu_item->submenu && !GTK_IS_MENU_BAR (parent))
+      if ((menu_item->submenu && !GTK_IS_MENU_BAR (parent)) || priv->reserve_indicator);
 	{
 	  guint arrow_spacing;
 	  gint  arrow_size;
@@ -807,6 +808,7 @@ gtk_menu_item_get_preferred_height (GtkWidget *widget,
 
   if (child != NULL && gtk_widget_get_visible (child))
     {
+      GtkMenuItemPrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (menu_item);
       gint child_min, child_nat;
 
       gtk_widget_get_preferred_height (child, &child_min, &child_nat);
@@ -814,7 +816,7 @@ gtk_menu_item_get_preferred_height (GtkWidget *widget,
       min_height += child_min;
       nat_height += child_nat;
 
-      if (menu_item->submenu && !GTK_IS_MENU_BAR (parent))
+      if ((menu_item->submenu && !GTK_IS_MENU_BAR (parent)) || priv->reserve_indicator)
 	{
 	  gint  arrow_size;
 
@@ -916,10 +918,11 @@ gtk_menu_item_get_preferred_height_for_width (GtkWidget *widget,
 
   if (child != NULL && gtk_widget_get_visible (child))
     {
+      GtkMenuItemPrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (menu_item);
       gint child_min, child_nat;
       gint arrow_size = 0;
       
-      if (menu_item->submenu && !GTK_IS_MENU_BAR (parent))
+      if ((menu_item->submenu && !GTK_IS_MENU_BAR (parent)) || priv->reserve_indicator)
 	{
           guint arrow_spacing;
 
@@ -1351,6 +1354,7 @@ gtk_menu_item_size_allocate (GtkWidget     *widget,
   child = gtk_bin_get_child (bin);
   if (child)
     {
+      GtkMenuItemPrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (menu_item);
       GtkRequisition child_requisition;
       GtkStyle *style;
       guint horizontal_padding;
@@ -1393,7 +1397,7 @@ gtk_menu_item_size_allocate (GtkWidget     *widget,
       child_allocation.y += allocation->y;
 
       gtk_widget_get_preferred_size (child, &child_requisition, NULL);
-      if (menu_item->submenu && !GTK_IS_MENU_BAR (parent)) 
+      if ((menu_item->submenu && !GTK_IS_MENU_BAR (parent)) || priv->reserve_indicator)
 	{
 	  if (direction == GTK_TEXT_DIR_RTL)
 	    child_allocation.x += child_requisition.height;
@@ -2515,3 +2519,32 @@ gtk_menu_item_get_use_underline (GtkMenuItem *menu_item)
 
   return FALSE;
 }
+
+void
+gtk_menu_item_set_reserve_indicator (GtkMenuItem         *menu_item,
+				     gboolean             reserve)
+{
+  GtkMenuItemPrivate *priv;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_MENU_ITEM (menu_item));
+
+  priv = GET_PRIVATE (menu_item);
+
+  if (priv->reserve_indicator != reserve)
+    {
+      priv->reserve_indicator = reserve;
+      gtk_widget_queue_resize (GTK_WIDGET (menu_item));
+    }
+}
+
+gboolean
+gtk_menu_item_get_reserve_indicator (GtkMenuItem         *menu_item)
+{
+  GtkMenuItemPrivate *priv;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (GTK_IS_MENU_ITEM (menu_item), FALSE);
+
+  priv = GET_PRIVATE (menu_item);
+
+  return priv->reserve_indicator;
+}
diff --git a/gtk/gtkmenuitem.h b/gtk/gtkmenuitem.h
index c0a51e496c..efa1bf0bbd 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkmenuitem.h
+++ b/gtk/gtkmenuitem.h
@@ -119,6 +119,19 @@ void       gtk_menu_item_set_use_underline    (GtkMenuItem         *menu_item,
                                                gboolean             setting);
 gboolean   gtk_menu_item_get_use_underline    (GtkMenuItem         *menu_item);
 
+void       gtk_menu_item_set_reserve_indicator(GtkMenuItem         *menu_item,
+					       gboolean             reserve);
+gboolean   gtk_menu_item_get_reserve_indicator(GtkMenuItem         *menu_item);
+
+/* private */
+void	  _gtk_menu_item_refresh_accel_path   (GtkMenuItem	   *menu_item,
+					       const gchar	   *prefix,
+					       GtkAccelGroup	   *accel_group,
+					       gboolean		    group_changed);
+gboolean  _gtk_menu_item_is_selectable        (GtkWidget           *menu_item);
+void      _gtk_menu_item_popup_submenu        (GtkWidget           *menu_item,
+                                               gboolean             with_delay);
+void      _gtk_menu_item_popdown_submenu      (GtkWidget           *menu_item);
 
 G_END_DECLS
 
diff --git a/gtk/gtkmenuitemprivate.h b/gtk/gtkmenuitemprivate.h
index 226ff3cc9f..6c3377ae07 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkmenuitemprivate.h
+++ b/gtk/gtkmenuitemprivate.h
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ struct _GtkMenuItemPrivate
   guint timer_from_keypress    : 1;
   guint from_menubar           : 1;
   guint use_action_appearance  : 1;
+  guint reserve_indicator      : 1;
 
   guint timer;