diff --git a/python/core/qgsmimedatautils.sip b/python/core/qgsmimedatautils.sip
index 6f9c062d79c2..7ab7b35dfb05 100644
--- a/python/core/qgsmimedatautils.sip
+++ b/python/core/qgsmimedatautils.sip
@@ -48,6 +48,14 @@ Returns encoded representation of the object
  :rtype: QgsVectorLayer
 %End
 
+      QgsRasterLayer *rasterLayer( bool &owner, QString &error ) const;
+%Docstring
+ Get raster layer from uri if possible, otherwise returns 0 and error is set
+ \param owner set to true if caller becomes owner
+ \param error set to error message if cannot get raster
+ :rtype: QgsRasterLayer
+%End
+
       QString layerType;
 %Docstring
 Type of URI. Recognized types: "vector" / "raster" / "plugin" / "custom"
diff --git a/src/core/qgsmimedatautils.cpp b/src/core/qgsmimedatautils.cpp
index 9d1b6cc9a421..7c625efc0032 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsmimedatautils.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsmimedatautils.cpp
@@ -100,6 +100,18 @@ QgsVectorLayer *QgsMimeDataUtils::Uri::vectorLayer( bool &owner, QString &error
   return new QgsVectorLayer( uri, name, providerKey );
 }
 
+QgsRasterLayer *QgsMimeDataUtils::Uri::rasterLayer( bool &owner, QString &error ) const
+{
+  owner = false;
+  if ( layerType != QLatin1String( "raster" ) )
+  {
+    error = QObject::tr( "%1: Not a raster layer." ).arg( name );
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+  owner = true;
+  return new QgsRasterLayer( uri, name, providerKey );
+}
+
 // -----
 
 bool QgsMimeDataUtils::isUriList( const QMimeData *data )
diff --git a/src/core/qgsmimedatautils.h b/src/core/qgsmimedatautils.h
index d7edcb8ae2c2..93eaeaf47366 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsmimedatautils.h
+++ b/src/core/qgsmimedatautils.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 class QgsLayerItem;
 class QgsLayerTreeNode;
 class QgsVectorLayer;
+class QgsRasterLayer;
 
 /** \ingroup core
  * \class QgsMimeDataUtils
@@ -51,6 +52,12 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMimeDataUtils
        */
       QgsVectorLayer *vectorLayer( bool &owner, QString &error ) const;
 
+      /** Get raster layer from uri if possible, otherwise returns 0 and error is set
+       * \param owner set to true if caller becomes owner
+       * \param error set to error message if cannot get raster
+       */
+      QgsRasterLayer *rasterLayer( bool &owner, QString &error ) const;
+
       //! Type of URI. Recognized types: "vector" / "raster" / "plugin" / "custom"
       QString layerType;
       //! For "vector" / "raster" type: provider id.