diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h
index 980f11be07..ff3095d1ff 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	Duple window_origin() const;
+	Duple canvas_origin() const;
 
 	ScrollGroup* scroll_parent() const { return _scroll_parent; }
 
diff --git a/libs/canvas/item.cc b/libs/canvas/item.cc
index bab6e73b54..620343493f 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/item.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/item.cc
@@ -82,6 +82,12 @@ Item::~Item ()
 	}
 }
 
+Duple
+Item::canvas_origin () const
+{
+	return item_to_canvas (Duple (0,0));
+}
+
 Duple
 Item::window_origin () const 
 {