diff --git a/xcbutils.cpp b/xcbutils.cpp
index 5bff1de8f2..5a24cb3ed2 100644
--- a/xcbutils.cpp
+++ b/xcbutils.cpp
@@ -265,6 +265,7 @@ Shm::Shm()
     , m_buffer(NULL)
     , m_segment(XCB_NONE)
     , m_valid(false)
+    , m_pixmapFormat(XCB_IMAGE_FORMAT_XY_BITMAP)
 {
     m_valid = init();
 }
@@ -290,6 +291,7 @@ bool Shm::init()
         qDebug() << "Failed to get SHM extension version information";
         return false;
     }
+    m_pixmapFormat = version->pixmap_format;
     const int MAXSIZE = 4096 * 2048 * 4; // TODO check there are not larger windows
     m_shmId = shmget(IPC_PRIVATE, MAXSIZE, IPC_CREAT | 0600);
     if (m_shmId < 0) {
diff --git a/xcbutils.h b/xcbutils.h
index 4ce56eac25..5359fd1166 100644
--- a/xcbutils.h
+++ b/xcbutils.h
@@ -923,12 +923,14 @@ public:
     void *buffer() const;
     xcb_shm_seg_t segment() const;
     bool isValid() const;
+    uint8_t pixmapFormat() const;
 private:
     bool init();
     int m_shmId;
     void *m_buffer;
     xcb_shm_seg_t m_segment;
     bool m_valid;
+    uint8_t m_pixmapFormat;
 };
 
 inline
@@ -955,6 +957,12 @@ int Shm::shmId() const
     return m_shmId;
 }
 
+inline
+uint8_t Shm::pixmapFormat() const
+{
+    return m_pixmapFormat;
+}
+
 } // namespace X11
 
 } // namespace KWin