diff --git a/panda/src/event/asyncTask.cxx b/panda/src/event/asyncTask.cxx
index 52b97e4f61..a06746a50b 100644
--- a/panda/src/event/asyncTask.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/event/asyncTask.cxx
@@ -177,6 +177,34 @@ set_name(const string &name) {
 #endif  // DO_PSTATS
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: AsyncTask::get_name_prefix
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Returns the initial part of the name, up to but not
+//               including any trailing digits following a hyphen or
+//               underscore.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+string AsyncTask::
+get_name_prefix() const {
+  string name = get_name();
+  size_t trimmed = name.size();
+  size_t p = trimmed;
+  while (true) {
+    while (p > 0 && isdigit(name[p - 1])) {
+      --p;
+    }
+    if (p > 0 && (name[p - 1] == '-' || name[p - 1] == '_')) {
+      --p;
+      trimmed = p;
+    } else {
+      p = trimmed;
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return name.substr(0, trimmed);
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: AsyncTask::set_task_chain
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/panda/src/event/asyncTask.h b/panda/src/event/asyncTask.h
index 13297f6b33..aa284b3273 100644
--- a/panda/src/event/asyncTask.h
+++ b/panda/src/event/asyncTask.h
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   void set_name(const string &name);
   INLINE void clear_name();
+  string get_name_prefix() const;
 
   INLINE AtomicAdjust::Integer get_task_id() const;