diff --git a/docs/libs/gst-plugins-base-libs-sections.txt b/docs/libs/gst-plugins-base-libs-sections.txt
index 091b7b5314..2ae87c1c1c 100644
--- a/docs/libs/gst-plugins-base-libs-sections.txt
+++ b/docs/libs/gst-plugins-base-libs-sections.txt
@@ -1944,6 +1944,7 @@ gst_codec_utils_aac_caps_set_level_and_profile
 gst_codec_utils_h264_get_profile
 gst_codec_utils_h264_get_level
 gst_codec_utils_h264_caps_set_level_and_profile
+gst_codec_utils_h264_get_level_idc
 <SUBSECTION>
 gst_codec_utils_mpeg4video_get_profile
 gst_codec_utils_mpeg4video_get_level
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/codec-utils.c b/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/codec-utils.c
index 3ab61ad903..9708474abc 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/codec-utils.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/codec-utils.c
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@
 
 #include "pbutils.h"
 
+#include <string.h>
+
 #define GST_SIMPLE_CAPS_HAS_NAME(caps,name) \
     gst_structure_has_name(gst_caps_get_structure((caps),0),(name))
 
@@ -526,6 +528,57 @@ gst_codec_utils_h264_get_level (const guint8 * sps, guint len)
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * gst_codec_utils_h264_get_level_id:
+ * @level: A level string from caps
+ *
+ * Transform a level string from the caps into the level_idc
+ *
+ * Returns: the level_idc or 0 if the level is unknown
+ */
+
+guint8
+gst_codec_utils_h264_get_level_idc (const gchar * level)
+{
+  g_return_val_if_fail (level != NULL, 0);
+
+  if (!strcmp (level, "1"))
+    return 10;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "1b"))
+    return 9;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "1.1"))
+    return 11;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "1.2"))
+    return 12;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "1.3"))
+    return 13;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "2"))
+    return 20;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "2.1"))
+    return 21;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "2.2"))
+    return 22;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "3"))
+    return 30;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "3.1"))
+    return 31;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "3.2"))
+    return 32;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "4"))
+    return 40;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "4.1"))
+    return 41;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "4.2"))
+    return 42;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "5"))
+    return 50;
+  else if (!strcmp (level, "5.1"))
+    return 51;
+
+  GST_WARNING ("Invalid level %s", level);
+  return 0;
+}
+
 /**
  * gst_codec_utils_h264_caps_set_level_and_profile:
  * @caps: the #GstCaps to which the level and profile are to be added
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/codec-utils.h b/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/codec-utils.h
index ae5a68b1f6..7c2febf7f3 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/codec-utils.h
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/codec-utils.h
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ const gchar * gst_codec_utils_h264_get_profile (const guint8 * sps, guint len);
 
 const gchar * gst_codec_utils_h264_get_level   (const guint8 * sps, guint len);
 
+guint8        gst_codec_utils_h264_get_level_idc (const gchar * level);
+
 gboolean      gst_codec_utils_h264_caps_set_level_and_profile (GstCaps      * caps,
                                                                const guint8 * sps,
                                                                guint          len);