diff --git a/docs/changes.txt b/docs/changes.txt
index 8693868a00..82e9bf1155 100644
--- a/docs/changes.txt
+++ b/docs/changes.txt
@@ -487,6 +487,7 @@ All (GUI):
 - Allow converting to and from wxGraphicsBitmap and wxImage directly.
 - Allow wxGraphicsFont creation without passing by wxFont.
 - Added wxDataViewCustomRenderer::ActivateCell().
+- Add "checked" property for toolbar tool elements in XRC.
 
 OSX:
 
diff --git a/docs/doxygen/overviews/xrc_format.h b/docs/doxygen/overviews/xrc_format.h
index 71325a6ebb..bd7f0e659b 100644
--- a/docs/doxygen/overviews/xrc_format.h
+++ b/docs/doxygen/overviews/xrc_format.h
@@ -1654,6 +1654,8 @@ properties:
     Help text shown in statusbar when the mouse is on the tool (default: none).}
 @row3col{disabled, @ref overview_xrcformat_type_bool,
      Is the tool initially disabled (default: 0)?}
+@row3col{checked, @ref overview_xrcformat_type_bool,
+     Is the tool initially checked (default: 0)? (only available since wxWidgets 2.9.3)}
 @endTable
 
 The presence of a @c dropdown property indicates that the tool is of type
diff --git a/src/xrc/xh_toolb.cpp b/src/xrc/xh_toolb.cpp
index 041c8d8b66..c6e75a3615 100644
--- a/src/xrc/xh_toolb.cpp
+++ b/src/xrc/xh_toolb.cpp
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ wxObject *wxToolBarXmlHandler::DoCreateResource()
 
             kind = wxITEM_CHECK;
         }
+
 #if wxUSE_MENUS
         // check whether we have dropdown tag inside
         wxMenu *menu = NULL; // menu for drop down items
@@ -137,6 +138,23 @@ wxObject *wxToolBarXmlHandler::DoCreateResource()
 
         if ( GetBool(wxT("disabled")) )
             m_toolbar->EnableTool(GetID(), false);
+
+        if ( GetBool(wxS("checked")) )
+        {
+            if ( kind == wxITEM_NORMAL )
+            {
+                ReportParamError
+                (
+                    "checked",
+                    "only <radio> nor <toggle> tools can be checked"
+                );
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                m_toolbar->ToggleTool(GetID(), true);
+            }
+        }
+
 #if wxUSE_MENUS
         if ( menu )
             tool->SetDropdownMenu(menu);