diff --git a/effects.cpp b/effects.cpp
index 8266d2417e..bc62975c61 100644
--- a/effects.cpp
+++ b/effects.cpp
@@ -1395,6 +1395,21 @@ QStringList EffectsHandlerImpl::listOfEffects() const
     return listOfModules;
 }
 
+KService::Ptr EffectsHandlerImpl::findEffectService(const QString &internalName) const
+{
+    QString constraint = QStringLiteral("[X-KDE-PluginInfo-Name] == '%1'").arg(internalName);
+    KService::List offers = KServiceTypeTrader::self()->query(QStringLiteral("KWin/Effect"), constraint);
+    if (offers.isEmpty()) {
+        return KService::Ptr();
+    }
+    return offers.first();
+}
+
+bool EffectsHandlerImpl::isScriptedEffect(KService::Ptr service) const
+{
+    return service->property(QStringLiteral("X-Plasma-API")).toString() == QStringLiteral("javascript");
+}
+
 bool EffectsHandlerImpl::loadEffect(const QString& name, bool checkDefault)
 {
     makeOpenGLContextCurrent();
@@ -1415,15 +1430,13 @@ bool EffectsHandlerImpl::loadEffect(const QString& name, bool checkDefault)
     qDebug() << "Trying to load " << name;
     QString internalname = name.toLower();
 
-    QString constraint = QStringLiteral("[X-KDE-PluginInfo-Name] == '%1'").arg(internalname);
-    KService::List offers = KServiceTypeTrader::self()->query(QStringLiteral("KWin/Effect"), constraint);
-    if (offers.isEmpty()) {
+    KService::Ptr service = findEffectService(internalname);
+    if (!service) {
         qCritical() << "Couldn't find effect " << name << endl;
         return false;
     }
-    KService::Ptr service = offers.first();
 
-    if (service->property(QStringLiteral("X-Plasma-API")).toString() == QStringLiteral("javascript")) {
+    if (isScriptedEffect(service)) {
         // this is a scripted effect - use different loader
         return loadScriptedEffect(name, service.data());
     }
@@ -1606,6 +1619,69 @@ bool EffectsHandlerImpl::isEffectLoaded(const QString& name) const
     return false;
 }
 
+bool EffectsHandlerImpl::isEffectSupported(const QString &name)
+{
+    // if the effect is loaded, it is obviously supported
+    auto it = std::find_if(loaded_effects.constBegin(), loaded_effects.constEnd(), [name](const EffectPair &pair) {
+        return pair.first == name;
+    });
+    if (it != loaded_effects.constEnd()) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    const QString internalName = name.toLower();
+    KService::Ptr service = findEffectService(name.toLower());
+    if (!service) {
+        // effect not found
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (isScriptedEffect(service)) {
+        // scripted effects are generally supported
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    // next checks might require a context
+    makeOpenGLContextCurrent();
+    m_compositor->addRepaintFull();
+
+    // try builtin effects
+    const QByteArray builtInName = internalName.mid(13).toUtf8(); // drop kwin4_effect_
+    if (BuiltInEffects::available(builtInName)) {
+        return BuiltInEffects::supported(builtInName);
+    }
+
+    // try remaining effects
+    KLibrary* library = findEffectLibrary(service.data());
+    if (!library) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    const QString supported_symbol = QStringLiteral("effect_supported_") + name;
+    KLibrary::void_function_ptr supported_func = library->resolveFunction(supported_symbol.toAscii().data());
+
+    bool supported = true;
+
+    if (supported_func) {
+        typedef bool (*t_supportedfunc)();
+        t_supportedfunc supportedFunction = reinterpret_cast<t_supportedfunc>(supported_func);
+        supported = supportedFunction();
+    }
+
+    library->unload();
+
+    return supported;
+}
+
+QList< bool > EffectsHandlerImpl::areEffectsSupported(const QStringList &names)
+{
+    QList< bool > retList;
+    for (const QString &name : names) {
+        retList << isEffectSupported(name);
+    }
+    return retList;
+}
+
 void EffectsHandlerImpl::reloadEffect(Effect *effect)
 {
     QString effectName;
diff --git a/effects.h b/effects.h
index 89849f5a1b..70a5f4120c 100644
--- a/effects.h
+++ b/effects.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include <QHash>
 #include <QQueue>
 #include <Plasma/FrameSvg>
+#include <KService>
 
 namespace Plasma {
 class Theme;
@@ -220,6 +221,8 @@ public Q_SLOTS:
     Q_SCRIPTABLE void toggleEffect(const QString& name);
     Q_SCRIPTABLE void unloadEffect(const QString& name);
     Q_SCRIPTABLE bool isEffectLoaded(const QString& name) const;
+    Q_SCRIPTABLE bool isEffectSupported(const QString& name);
+    Q_SCRIPTABLE QList<bool> areEffectsSupported(const QStringList &names);
     Q_SCRIPTABLE QString supportInformation(const QString& name) const;
     Q_SCRIPTABLE QString debug(const QString& name, const QString& parameter = QString()) const;
 
@@ -265,6 +268,8 @@ private Q_SLOTS:
     void slotEffectsQueried();
 
 private:
+    KService::Ptr findEffectService(const QString &internalName) const;
+    bool isScriptedEffect(KService::Ptr service) const;
     typedef QVector< Effect*> EffectsList;
     typedef EffectsList::const_iterator EffectsIterator;
     Effect *loadBuiltInEffect(const QByteArray &name, bool checkDefault);
diff --git a/org.kde.kwin.Effects.xml b/org.kde.kwin.Effects.xml
index 4456743973..c96aa84b58 100644
--- a/org.kde.kwin.Effects.xml
+++ b/org.kde.kwin.Effects.xml
@@ -26,6 +26,15 @@
       <arg type="b" direction="out"/>
       <arg name="name" type="s" direction="in"/>
     </method>
+    <method name="isEffectSupported">
+      <arg type="b" direction="out"/>
+      <arg name="name" type="s" direction="in"/>
+    </method>
+    <method name="areEffectsSupported">
+      <arg type="ab" direction="out"/>
+      <annotation name="org.qtproject.QtDBus.QtTypeName.Out0" value="QList&lt;bool&gt;"/>
+      <arg name="names" type="as" direction="in"/>
+    </method>
     <method name="supportInformation">
       <arg type="s" direction="out"/>
       <arg name="name" type="s" direction="in"/>