diff --git a/src/gui_gtk_x11.c b/src/gui_gtk_x11.c
index 8e66d33..04f1372 100644
--- a/src/gui_gtk_x11.c
+++ b/src/gui_gtk_x11.c
@@ -3198,12 +3198,23 @@
 
     if (!showit != !gtk_notebook_get_show_tabs(GTK_NOTEBOOK(gui.tabline)))
     {
+	/* Note: this may cause a resize event */
 	gtk_notebook_set_show_tabs(GTK_NOTEBOOK(gui.tabline), showit);
 	update_window_manager_hints();
     }
 }
 
 /*
+ * Return TRUE when tabline is displayed.
+ */
+    int
+gui_mch_showing_tabline(void)
+{
+    return gui.tabline != NULL
+		     && gtk_notebook_get_show_tabs(GTK_NOTEBOOK(gui.tabline));
+}
+
+/*
  * Update the labels of the tabline.
  */
     void