diff --git a/include/wx/webview.h b/include/wx/webview.h
index 9975325392..4ae7c8c616 100644
--- a/include/wx/webview.h
+++ b/include/wx/webview.h
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ public:
 
     static void RegisterFactory(const wxString& backend,
                                 wxSharedPtr<wxWebViewFactory> factory);
+    static bool IsBackendAvailable(const wxString& backend);
 
     // General methods
     virtual void EnableContextMenu(bool enable = true)
diff --git a/interface/wx/webview.h b/interface/wx/webview.h
index 685760d60b..cc7cce47af 100644
--- a/interface/wx/webview.h
+++ b/interface/wx/webview.h
@@ -427,6 +427,14 @@ public:
     static void RegisterFactory(const wxString& backend,
                                 wxSharedPtr<wxWebViewFactory> factory);
 
+    /**
+        Allows to check if a specific backend is currently available
+
+        @since 3.1.4
+    */
+    static bool IsBackendAvailable(const wxString& backend);
+
+
     /**
         Get the title of the current web page, or its URL/path if title is not
         available.
diff --git a/src/common/webview.cpp b/src/common/webview.cpp
index 5121e385eb..214d82ab5d 100644
--- a/src/common/webview.cpp
+++ b/src/common/webview.cpp
@@ -86,6 +86,13 @@ void wxWebView::RegisterFactory(const wxString& backend,
 }
 
 // static
+bool wxWebView::IsBackendAvailable(const wxString& backend)
+{
+    wxStringWebViewFactoryMap::iterator iter = FindFactory(backend);
+    return (iter != m_factoryMap.end());
+}
+
+// static 
 wxStringWebViewFactoryMap::iterator wxWebView::FindFactory(const wxString &backend)
 {
     // Initialise the map, it checks internally for existing factories