diff --git a/dix/dix_priv.h b/dix/dix_priv.h
index 81d33ad92..211de0d16 100644
--- a/dix/dix_priv.h
+++ b/dix/dix_priv.h
@@ -278,4 +278,17 @@ void dixFreeScreen(ScreenPtr pScreen);
 
 void dixFreeAllScreens(void);
 
+/*
+ * @brief retrieve owning client for given XID
+ *
+ * just lookup by ID space, the resource doens't need to actually exist
+ */
+static inline ClientPtr dixLookupXIDOwner(XID xid)
+{
+    int clientId = CLIENT_ID(xid);
+    if (clientId < currentMaxClients)
+        return clients[clientId];
+    return NullClient;
+}
+
 #endif /* _XSERVER_DIX_PRIV_H */