diff --git a/src/cinnamon-global.c b/src/cinnamon-global.c
index 2483e19d23..5193244c35 100644
--- a/src/cinnamon-global.c
+++ b/src/cinnamon-global.c
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ struct _CinnamonGlobal {
   ca_context *sound_context;
 
   guint32 xdnd_timestamp;
-
   gint64 last_gc_end_time;
 };
 
@@ -1663,6 +1662,17 @@ cinnamon_global_get_current_time (CinnamonGlobal *global)
     return CLUTTER_CURRENT_TIME;
 }
 
+/**
+ * cinnamon_global_get_pid:
+ *
+ * Returns: the pid of the cinnamon process.
+ */
+pid_t
+cinnamon_global_get_pid ()
+{
+  return getpid();
+}
+
 /**
  * cinnamon_global_create_app_launch_context:
  * @global: A #CinnamonGlobal
diff --git a/src/cinnamon-global.h b/src/cinnamon-global.h
index c20567fddd..4616a08873 100644
--- a/src/cinnamon-global.h
+++ b/src/cinnamon-global.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ MetaDisplay   *cinnamon_global_get_display               (CinnamonGlobal *global
 GList         *cinnamon_global_get_window_actors         (CinnamonGlobal *global);
 GSettings     *cinnamon_global_get_settings              (CinnamonGlobal *global);
 guint32        cinnamon_global_get_current_time          (CinnamonGlobal *global);
-
+pid_t          cinnamon_global_get_pid                      (void);
 
 /* Input/event handling */
 gboolean cinnamon_global_begin_modal            (CinnamonGlobal         *global,