diff --git a/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip b/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip
index c5e3a14015d..cee1b7d65b8 100644
--- a/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip
+++ b/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip
@@ -22,7 +22,12 @@ class QgsLegendInterface : QObject
     //! Return the relationship between groups and layers in the legend
     virtual QList< QPair< QString, QList<QString> > > groupLayerRelationship();
 
-    //! Return all layers in the project in legend order
+    //! Returns the currently selected layers of QgsLegendLayers.
+    //! @param inDrawOrder return layers in drawing order (added in 1.9)
+    //! @returns list of layers, else an empty list
+    virtual QList<QgsMapLayer *> selectedLayers( bool inDrawOrder = false ) const = 0;
+
+    //! Return all layers in the project in drawing order
     //! @note added in 1.5
     virtual QList< QgsMapLayer * > layers() const = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp
index 50c4400d072..6ef6abdd552 100644
--- a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp
@@ -166,6 +166,11 @@ bool QgsAppLegendInterface::isLayerVisible( QgsMapLayer * ml )
   return ( Qt::Checked == mLegend->layerCheckState( ml ) );
 }
 
+QList<QgsMapLayer *> QgsAppLegendInterface::selectedLayers( bool inDrawOrder ) const
+{
+  return mLegend->selectedLayers( inDrawOrder );
+}
+
 QList< QgsMapLayer * > QgsAppLegendInterface::layers() const
 {
   return mLegend->layers();
diff --git a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h
index a7b0c7652d3..00295eff723 100644
--- a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h
+++ b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h
@@ -46,7 +46,10 @@ class QgsAppLegendInterface : public QgsLegendInterface
     //! Return the relationship between groups and layers in the legend
     QList< GroupLayerInfo > groupLayerRelationship();
 
-    //! Return all layers in the project in legend order
+    //! Returns the currently selected layers of QgsLegendLayers.
+    QList<QgsMapLayer *> selectedLayers( bool inDrawOrder = false ) const;
+
+    //! Return all layers in the project in drawing order
     QList< QgsMapLayer * > layers() const;
 
     //! Check if a group exists
diff --git a/src/app/legend/qgslegend.cpp b/src/app/legend/qgslegend.cpp
index 201e8a3e8d8..640419d94d3 100644
--- a/src/app/legend/qgslegend.cpp
+++ b/src/app/legend/qgslegend.cpp
@@ -1093,15 +1093,26 @@ QgsMapLayer* QgsLegend::currentLayer()
   }
 }
 
-QList<QgsMapLayer *> QgsLegend::selectedLayers()
+QList<QgsMapLayer *> QgsLegend::selectedLayers( bool inDrawOrder )
 {
   QList<QgsMapLayer *> layers;
 
-  foreach ( QTreeWidgetItem * item, selectedItems() )
+  if ( inDrawOrder )
   {
-    QgsLegendLayer *ll = dynamic_cast<QgsLegendLayer *>( item );
-    if ( ll )
-      layers << ll->layer();
+    foreach ( QgsLegendLayer *ll, legendLayers() )
+    {
+      if ( ll->isSelected() )
+        layers << ll->layer();
+    }
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    foreach ( QTreeWidgetItem * item, selectedItems() )
+    {
+      QgsLegendLayer *ll = dynamic_cast<QgsLegendLayer *>( item );
+      if ( ll )
+        layers << ll->layer();
+    }
   }
 
   return layers;
diff --git a/src/app/legend/qgslegend.h b/src/app/legend/qgslegend.h
index 8f257d6be88..e7dd980672d 100644
--- a/src/app/legend/qgslegend.h
+++ b/src/app/legend/qgslegend.h
@@ -117,9 +117,10 @@ class QgsLegend : public QTreeWidget
     Else, 0 is returned.*/
     QgsMapLayer* currentLayer();
 
-    /*!Returns the currently selected layer QgsLegendLayers.
-    Else, an empty list is returned.*/
-    QList<QgsMapLayer *> selectedLayers();
+    /** Returns the currently selected layers of QgsLegendLayers.
+      * @param inDrawOrder return layers in drawing order (added in 1.9)
+      * @returns list of layers, else an empty list */
+    QList<QgsMapLayer *> selectedLayers( bool inDrawOrder = false );
 
     /*!Returns all layers loaded in QgsMapCanvas in drawing order
     Else, an empty list is returned.*/
diff --git a/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h b/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h
index 1679bc34269..177489f0b22 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h
+++ b/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h
@@ -54,7 +54,12 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsLegendInterface : public QObject
     //! Return the relationship between groups and layers in the legend
     virtual QList< GroupLayerInfo > groupLayerRelationship() { return QList< GroupLayerInfo >(); }
 
-    //! Return all layers in the project in legend order
+    //! Returns the currently selected layers of QgsLegendLayers.
+    //! @param inDrawOrder return layers in drawing order (added in 1.9)
+    //! @returns list of layers, else an empty list
+    virtual QList<QgsMapLayer *> selectedLayers( bool inDrawOrder = false ) const = 0;
+
+    //! Return all layers in the project in drawing order
     //! @note added in 1.5
     virtual QList< QgsMapLayer * > layers() const = 0;