diff --git a/dix/dispatch.c b/dix/dispatch.c
index 8d6a3addb..2ae5304de 100644
--- a/dix/dispatch.c
+++ b/dix/dispatch.c
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ Equipment Corporation.
 #include "dix/registry_priv.h"
 #include "dix/screenint_priv.h"
 #include "dix/selection_priv.h"
+#include "include/dix_pixmap.h"
 #include "include/resource.h"
 #include "miext/extinit_priv.h"
 #include "os/auth.h"
@@ -1470,11 +1471,7 @@ ProcListFontsWithInfo(ClientPtr client)
 int
 dixDestroyPixmap(void *value, XID pid)
 {
-    PixmapPtr pPixmap = (PixmapPtr) value;
-    if (pPixmap && pPixmap->refcnt == 1)
-        dixScreenRaisePixmapDestroy(pPixmap);
-    if (pPixmap && pPixmap->drawable.pScreen && pPixmap->drawable.pScreen->DestroyPixmap)
-        return pPixmap->drawable.pScreen->DestroyPixmap(pPixmap);
+    dixPixmapPut((PixmapPtr) value);
     return TRUE;
 }
 
diff --git a/dix/meson.build b/dix/meson.build
index 8d4c28494..8a10ab164 100644
--- a/dix/meson.build
+++ b/dix/meson.build
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ srcs_dix = [
     'inpututils.c',
     'lookup.c',
     'pixmap.c',
+    'pixmap_api.c',
     'privates.c',
     'property.c',
     'ptrveloc.c',
diff --git a/dix/pixmap_api.c b/dix/pixmap_api.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e8cb38cd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dix/pixmap_api.c
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT OR X11
+ *
+ * Copyright © 2024 Enrico Weigelt, metux IT consult <info@metux.net>
+ *
+ * @brief pixmap lifecycle API
+ */
+#include <dix-config.h>
+
+#include "dix/dix_priv.h"
+#include "include/dix_pixmap.h"
+#include "include/pixmapstr.h"
+#include "include/scrnintstr.h"
+
+PixmapPtr dixPixmapCreate(ScreenPtr pScreen,
+                          uint32_t width,
+                          uint32_t height,
+                          uint32_t depth,
+                          uint32_t usage_hint)
+{
+    if (!pScreen) {
+        LogMessage(X_ERROR, "dixCreatePixmap() called on NULL screen\n");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    if (!pScreen->CreatePixmap) {
+        LogMessage(X_ERROR, "dixCreatePixmap() screen->CreatePixmap is NULL\n");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    return pScreen->CreatePixmap(pScreen, width, height, depth, usage_hint);
+}
+
+PixmapPtr dixPixmapGet(PixmapPtr pPixmap)
+{
+    if (pPixmap)
+        pPixmap->refcnt++;
+    return pPixmap;
+}
+
+void dixPixmapPut(PixmapPtr pPixmap)
+{
+    if (pPixmap && pPixmap->refcnt == 1)
+        dixScreenRaisePixmapDestroy(pPixmap);
+    if (pPixmap && pPixmap->drawable.pScreen && pPixmap->drawable.pScreen->DestroyPixmap)
+        pPixmap->drawable.pScreen->DestroyPixmap(pPixmap);
+}
diff --git a/doc/Xserver-spec.xml b/doc/Xserver-spec.xml
index 8be223e07..914282072 100644
--- a/doc/Xserver-spec.xml
+++ b/doc/Xserver-spec.xml
@@ -3057,7 +3057,7 @@ must deallocate the PixmapRec and all attached devPrivate blocks.
 If successful, it returns TRUE.
 See Xserver/fb/fbpixmap.c for the sample server implementation.</para>
 <para>
-Consumers should never ever call that proc directly, but call dixDestroyPixmap() instead.
+Consumers should never ever call that proc directly, but call dixPixmapPut() instead.
 </para>
 <para>
 <blockquote><programlisting>
diff --git a/include/dix_pixmap.h b/include/dix_pixmap.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0490ad50f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/dix_pixmap.h
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT OR X11
+ *
+ * Copyright © 2024 Enrico Weigelt, metux IT consult <info@metux.net>
+ *
+ * @brief generic pixmap functions
+ *
+ * These functions replacing directly calling into ScreenRec vectors and also
+ * take care of calling hooks.
+
+ * NOTE: The ScreenProc vectors should never be called directly anymore,
+ * otherwise hooks might not be called.
+ */
+#ifndef DIX_PIXMAP_H
+#define DIX_PIXMAP_H
+
+#include <X11/Xfuncproto.h>
+
+#include "pixmap.h" /* PixmapPtr */
+#include "screenint.h" /* ScreenPtr */
+#include "window.h" /* WindowPtr */
+
+/*
+ * @brief create a pixmap on specified screen
+ *
+ * Call into driver and hooks for creating a pixmap with given geometry.
+ *
+ * @param pScreen the screen to create the pixmap on
+ * @param width width of the new pixmap
+ * @param height height of the new pixmap
+ * @param depth color depth of the new pixmap
+ * @param usage_hints allocation hints - see CREATE_PIXMAP_USAGE_* defines
+ * @result pointer to new pixmap or NULL on failure
+ */
+_X_EXPORT PixmapPtr dixPixmapCreate(ScreenPtr pScreen,
+                                    uint32_t width,
+                                    uint32_t height,
+                                    uint32_t depth,
+                                    uint32_t usage_hint);
+
+/*
+ * @brief increase pixmap reference counter
+ *
+ * Increase the pixmap's reference counter.
+ *
+ * @param pPixmap the pixmap who's reference counter is increased
+ * @return the original pPixmap value (for function chaining)
+ */
+_X_EXPORT PixmapPtr dixPixmapGet(PixmapPtr pPixmap);
+
+/*
+ * @brief decrease reference counter and potentially release it
+ *
+ * Decrease the pixmap's reference counter. If it reaches zero, destroy it.
+ *
+ * @param pPixmap the pixmap to release (NULL protected)
+ */
+_X_EXPORT void dixPixmapPut(PixmapPtr pPixmap);
+
+#endif /* DIX_PIXMAP_H */
diff --git a/include/meson.build b/include/meson.build
index 677c22a74..1e71afe26 100644
--- a/include/meson.build
+++ b/include/meson.build
@@ -437,6 +437,7 @@ if build_xorg
             'cursorstr.h',
             'dix.h',
             'dix_screen_hooks.h',
+            'dix_pixmap.h',
             'dixaccess.h',
             'dixevents.h',
             'dixfont.h',
diff --git a/include/xorg-server.h.meson.in b/include/xorg-server.h.meson.in
index 60dbb5dbe..839c7f41e 100644
--- a/include/xorg-server.h.meson.in
+++ b/include/xorg-server.h.meson.in
@@ -215,5 +215,6 @@
 #define XORG_API_DIX_SCREEN_HOOK_WINDOW_POSITION 1
 #define XORG_API_DIX_SCREEN_HOOK_CLOSE 1
 #define XORG_API_DIX_SCREEN_HOOK_PIXMAP_DESTROY 1
+#define XORG_API_DIX_PIXMAP_LIFETIME 1
 
 #endif /* _XORG_SERVER_H_ */