diff --git a/gdx/src/com/badlogic/gdx/scenes/scene2d/ui/Widget.java b/gdx/src/com/badlogic/gdx/scenes/scene2d/ui/Widget.java
index e1610de5198..9255d3108da 100644
--- a/gdx/src/com/badlogic/gdx/scenes/scene2d/ui/Widget.java
+++ b/gdx/src/com/badlogic/gdx/scenes/scene2d/ui/Widget.java
@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ public void validate () {
 		layout();
 	}
 
+	public boolean needsLayout () {
+		return needsLayout;
+	}
+
 	public void invalidateHierarchy () {
 		invalidate();
 		if (parent instanceof Layout) ((Layout)parent).invalidateHierarchy();
diff --git a/gdx/src/com/badlogic/gdx/scenes/scene2d/ui/WidgetGroup.java b/gdx/src/com/badlogic/gdx/scenes/scene2d/ui/WidgetGroup.java
index e03a7e0ee86..ae460dc0ff8 100644
--- a/gdx/src/com/badlogic/gdx/scenes/scene2d/ui/WidgetGroup.java
+++ b/gdx/src/com/badlogic/gdx/scenes/scene2d/ui/WidgetGroup.java
@@ -43,11 +43,15 @@ public void validate () {
 		needsLayout = false;
 	}
 
+	public boolean needsLayout () {
+		return needsLayout;
+	}
+
 	public void invalidateHierarchy () {
 		invalidate();
 		if (parent instanceof Layout) ((Layout)parent).invalidateHierarchy();
 	}
-	
+
 	protected void childrenChanged () {
 		invalidateHierarchy();
 	}