diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/dvm/gst-dvm.c b/gst-libs/gst/dvm/gst-dvm.c
index df2209ba52..8f84b0caad 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/dvm/gst-dvm.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/dvm/gst-dvm.c
@@ -157,3 +157,9 @@ create_failed:
     return FALSE;
   }
 }
+
+gboolean
+gst_dvm_is_own_vm (void)
+{
+  return started_java_vm;
+}
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/dvm/gst-dvm.h b/gst-libs/gst/dvm/gst-dvm.h
index 5905d81897..b91e7fc627 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/dvm/gst-dvm.h
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/dvm/gst-dvm.h
@@ -142,5 +142,6 @@
 
 JNIEnv *gst_dvm_get_env (void);
 gboolean gst_dvm_init (void);
+gboolean gst_dvm_is_own_vm (void);
 
 #endif /* __GST_DVM_H__ */