diff --git a/panda/src/mesadisplay/config_mesadisplay.cxx b/panda/src/mesadisplay/config_mesadisplay.cxx
index baf3d9fb2b..6a4f0f8d49 100644
--- a/panda/src/mesadisplay/config_mesadisplay.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/mesadisplay/config_mesadisplay.cxx
@@ -53,3 +53,13 @@ init_libmesadisplay() {
 
   Mesainit_classes();
 }
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: get_pipe_type_mesadisplay
+//  Description: Returns the TypeHandle index of the recommended
+//               graphics pipe type defined by this module.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+int
+get_pipe_type_mesadisplay() {
+  return OsMesaGraphicsPipe::get_class_type().get_index();
+}
diff --git a/panda/src/mesadisplay/config_mesadisplay.h b/panda/src/mesadisplay/config_mesadisplay.h
index b4e2c176f6..43009ac83e 100644
--- a/panda/src/mesadisplay/config_mesadisplay.h
+++ b/panda/src/mesadisplay/config_mesadisplay.h
@@ -23,5 +23,6 @@ ConfigureDecl(config_mesadisplay, EXPCL_PANDAMESA, EXPTP_PANDAMESA);
 NotifyCategoryDecl(mesadisplay, EXPCL_PANDAMESA, EXPTP_PANDAMESA);
 
 extern EXPCL_PANDAMESA void init_libmesadisplay();
+extern "C" EXPCL_PANDAMESA int get_pipe_type_mesadisplay();
 
 #endif