diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/interfaces/colorbalance.c b/gst-libs/gst/interfaces/colorbalance.c
index 1982f785e3..8843595b62 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/interfaces/colorbalance.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/interfaces/colorbalance.c
@@ -184,6 +184,14 @@ gst_color_balance_get_value (GstColorBalance * balance,
   return channel->min_value;
 }
 
+GstColorBalanceType
+gst_color_balance_get_balance_type (GstColorBalance * balance)
+{
+  GstColorBalanceClass *klass = GST_COLOR_BALANCE_GET_CLASS (balance);
+
+  return klass->balance_type;
+}
+
 /**
  * gst_color_balance_value_changed:
  * @balance: A #GstColorBalance instance
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/interfaces/colorbalance.h b/gst-libs/gst/interfaces/colorbalance.h
index 6884133e70..dc9f5994e8 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/interfaces/colorbalance.h
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/interfaces/colorbalance.h
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ void    gst_color_balance_set_value     (GstColorBalance        *balance,
 gint    gst_color_balance_get_value     (GstColorBalance        *balance,
                                          GstColorBalanceChannel *channel);
 
+GstColorBalanceType
+        gst_color_balance_get_balance_type (GstColorBalance        *balance);
+
 /* trigger signal */
 void    gst_color_balance_value_changed (GstColorBalance        *balance,
                                          GstColorBalanceChannel *channel,