diff --git a/include/wlr/types/wlr_scene.h b/include/wlr/types/wlr_scene.h
index 7f3217baa..df9e93b9c 100644
--- a/include/wlr/types/wlr_scene.h
+++ b/include/wlr/types/wlr_scene.h
@@ -529,6 +529,12 @@ struct wlr_scene_output_state_options {
 	struct wlr_swapchain *swapchain;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Returns true if scene wants to render a new frame. False, if no new frame
+ * is needed and an output commit can be skipped for the current frame.
+ */
+bool wlr_scene_output_needs_frame(struct wlr_scene_output *scene_output);
+
 /**
  * Render and commit an output.
  */
diff --git a/types/scene/wlr_scene.c b/types/scene/wlr_scene.c
index af9e243fa..1829ce542 100644
--- a/types/scene/wlr_scene.c
+++ b/types/scene/wlr_scene.c
@@ -1818,10 +1818,14 @@ static bool scene_entry_try_direct_scanout(struct render_list_entry *entry,
 	return true;
 }
 
+bool wlr_scene_output_needs_frame(struct wlr_scene_output *scene_output) {
+	return scene_output->output->needs_frame || pixman_region32_not_empty(
+		&scene_output->pending_commit_damage);
+}
+
 bool wlr_scene_output_commit(struct wlr_scene_output *scene_output,
 		const struct wlr_scene_output_state_options *options) {
-	if (!scene_output->output->needs_frame && !pixman_region32_not_empty(
-			&scene_output->pending_commit_damage)) {
+	if (!wlr_scene_output_needs_frame(scene_output)) {
 		return true;
 	}