diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h
index 0e47316e4b..1a955336c5 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/audio_backend.h
@@ -554,6 +554,10 @@ public:
 	virtual uint32_t systemic_midi_input_latency (std::string const) const  = 0;
 	virtual uint32_t systemic_midi_output_latency (std::string const) const = 0;
 
+	/* defaults as reported by device driver */
+	virtual uint32_t systemic_hw_input_latency () const { return 0; }
+	virtual uint32_t systemic_hw_output_latency () const { return 0; }
+
 	virtual uint32_t period_size () const { return 0; }
 
 	/** override this if this implementation returns true from