diff --git a/Source/Scene/Scene.js b/Source/Scene/Scene.js
index ff624df8fb86..9e2537d670ff 100644
--- a/Source/Scene/Scene.js
+++ b/Source/Scene/Scene.js
@@ -732,6 +732,19 @@ define([
             }
         },
 
+        /**
+         * Gets whether or not the scene has order independent translucency enabled.
+         * Note that this only reflects the original construction option, and there are
+         * other factors that could prevent OIT from functioning on a given system configuration.
+         * @memberof Scene.prototype
+         * @type {Boolean}
+         */
+        orderIndependentTranslucency : {
+            get : function() {
+                return defined(this._oit);
+            }
+        },
+
         /**
          * Gets the unique identifier for this scene.
          * @memberof Scene.prototype
diff --git a/Specs/Widgets/CesiumWidget/CesiumWidgetSpec.js b/Specs/Widgets/CesiumWidget/CesiumWidgetSpec.js
index 6d33abd025da..1083b1f95906 100644
--- a/Specs/Widgets/CesiumWidget/CesiumWidgetSpec.js
+++ b/Specs/Widgets/CesiumWidget/CesiumWidgetSpec.js
@@ -185,14 +185,14 @@ defineSuite([
         widget = new CesiumWidget(container, {
             orderIndependentTranslucency : true
         });
-        expect(widget.scene._oit).toBeDefined();
+        expect(widget.scene.orderIndependentTranslucency).toBe(true);
     });
 
     it('can disable Order Independent Translucency', function() {
         widget = new CesiumWidget(container, {
             orderIndependentTranslucency : false
         });
-        expect(widget.scene._oit).not.toBeDefined();
+        expect(widget.scene.orderIndependentTranslucency).toBe(false);
     });
 
     it('throws if no container provided', function() {
diff --git a/Specs/Widgets/Viewer/ViewerSpec.js b/Specs/Widgets/Viewer/ViewerSpec.js
index 4ba5f9085d4e..960f68b07292 100644
--- a/Specs/Widgets/Viewer/ViewerSpec.js
+++ b/Specs/Widgets/Viewer/ViewerSpec.js
@@ -316,14 +316,14 @@ defineSuite([
         viewer = new Viewer(container, {
             orderIndependentTranslucency : true
         });
-        expect(viewer.scene._oit).toBeDefined();
+        expect(viewer.scene.orderIndependentTranslucency).toBe(true);
     });
 
     it('can disable Order Independent Translucency', function() {
         viewer = new Viewer(container, {
             orderIndependentTranslucency : false
         });
-        expect(viewer.scene._oit).not.toBeDefined();
+        expect(viewer.scene.orderIndependentTranslucency).toBe(false);
     });
 
     it('can set scene mode', function() {