diff --git a/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip b/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip
index 56a0e884755..61e06b63862 100644
--- a/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip
+++ b/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ class QgsLegendInterface : QObject
     //! @note added in 1.5
     virtual bool isGroupVisible( int groupIndex ) = 0;
 
+    //! Check if a layer is expanded
+    //! @note added in 2.0
+    virtual bool isLayerExpanded( QgsMapLayer * ml ) = 0;
+
     //! Check if a layer is visible
     //! @note added in 1.5
     virtual bool isLayerVisible( QgsMapLayer * ml ) = 0;
diff --git a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp
index d8fdee840ea..c8b6a50886a 100644
--- a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp
@@ -167,6 +167,11 @@ bool QgsAppLegendInterface::isGroupVisible( int groupIndex )
   return ( Qt::Checked == getItem( groupIndex )->checkState( 0 ) );
 }
 
+bool QgsAppLegendInterface::isLayerExpanded( QgsMapLayer * ml )
+{
+  return mLegend->layerIsExpanded( ml );
+}
+
 bool QgsAppLegendInterface::isLayerVisible( QgsMapLayer * ml )
 {
   return ( Qt::Checked == mLegend->layerCheckState( ml ) );
diff --git a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h
index dabb922d644..9897e39890f 100644
--- a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h
+++ b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ class QgsAppLegendInterface : public QgsLegendInterface
     //! Check if a group is visible
     bool isGroupVisible( int groupIndex );
 
+    //! Check if a layer is expanded
+    bool isLayerExpanded( QgsMapLayer * ml );
+
     //! Check if a layer is visible
     bool isLayerVisible( QgsMapLayer * ml );
 
diff --git a/src/app/legend/qgslegend.cpp b/src/app/legend/qgslegend.cpp
index 6da03f2197a..c1c93126b05 100644
--- a/src/app/legend/qgslegend.cpp
+++ b/src/app/legend/qgslegend.cpp
@@ -831,6 +831,13 @@ Qt::CheckState QgsLegend::layerCheckState( QgsMapLayer * layer )
   return ll ? ll->checkState( 0 ) : Qt::Unchecked;
 }
 
+bool QgsLegend::layerIsExpanded( QgsMapLayer * layer )
+{
+  QgsLegendLayer * ll = findLegendLayer( layer );
+
+  return ll->isExpanded();
+}
+
 QgsLegendGroup* QgsLegend::addEmbeddedGroup( const QString& groupName, const QString& projectFilePath, QgsLegendItem* parent )
 {
   mEmbeddedGroups.insert( groupName, projectFilePath );
diff --git a/src/app/legend/qgslegend.h b/src/app/legend/qgslegend.h
index 2126b261401..9dee16f1c16 100644
--- a/src/app/legend/qgslegend.h
+++ b/src/app/legend/qgslegend.h
@@ -221,6 +221,9 @@ class QgsLegend : public QTreeWidget
     /**Returns a layers check state*/
     Qt::CheckState layerCheckState( QgsMapLayer * layer );
 
+    /**Returns a layers expanded state*/
+    bool layerIsExpanded( QgsMapLayer * layer );
+
     /**Add group from other project file. Returns a pointer to the new group in case of success or 0 in case of error*/
     QgsLegendGroup* addEmbeddedGroup( const QString& groupName, const QString& projectFilePath, QgsLegendItem* parent = 0 );
 
diff --git a/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h b/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h
index 8ffdf339e8e..343bd9b86ea 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h
+++ b/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsLegendInterface : public QObject
     //! @note added in 1.5
     virtual bool isGroupVisible( int groupIndex ) = 0;
 
+    //! Check if a layer is expanded
+    //! @note added in 2.0
+    virtual bool isLayerExpanded( QgsMapLayer * ml ) = 0;
+
     //! Check if a layer is visible
     //! @note added in 1.5
     virtual bool isLayerVisible( QgsMapLayer * ml ) = 0;