diff --git a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/filename.cxx b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/filename.cxx
index 04191ffbaf..a7c26c0885 100644
--- a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/filename.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/filename.cxx
@@ -711,6 +711,30 @@ is_directory() const {
   return isdir;
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Filename::is_executable
+//       Access: Public
+//  Description: Returns true if the filename exists and is
+//               executable
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+bool Filename::
+is_executable() const {
+  if (!exists()) {
+#ifdef WIN32_VC
+    // no access() in windows, but to our advantage executables can only
+    // end in .exe or .com
+    string stmp = to_os_specific();
+    stmp = stmp.substr(stmp.rfind(".") + 1);
+    if ((stmp == "exe") || (stmp == "com"))
+      return true;
+#else /* WIN32_VC */
+    if (access(to_os_specific().c_str(), X_OK) == 0)
+      return true;
+#endif /* WIN32_VC */
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: Filename::compare_timestamps
 //       Access: Public
diff --git a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/filename.h b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/filename.h
index 56db7e8186..40d8fe32c4 100644
--- a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/filename.h
+++ b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/filename.h
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
   bool exists() const;
   bool is_regular_file() const;
   bool is_directory() const;
+  bool is_executable() const;
   int compare_timestamps(const Filename &other,
 			 bool this_missing_is_old = true,
 			 bool other_missing_is_old = true) const;