diff --git a/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip b/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip
index 74c306294c8..26e6d418f89 100644
--- a/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip
+++ b/python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip
@@ -33,5 +33,9 @@ class QgsLegendInterface : QObject
 
     //! Move a layer to a group
     virtual void moveLayer( QgsMapLayer * layer, int groupIndex ) =0;
+
+    //! show layer propeties
+    //! @note added in 1.5
+    virtual void legendLayerShowProperties() =0;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp
index dfeb0d10614..e722d657436 100644
--- a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp
@@ -57,3 +57,8 @@ QStringList QgsAppLegendInterface::groups()
 {
   return mLegend->groups();
 }
+
+void QgsAppLegendInterface::legendLayerShowProperties()
+{
+  mLegend->legendLayerShowProperties();
+}
diff --git a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h
index 4e5243b153a..52bfd13590a 100644
--- a/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h
+++ b/src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ class QgsAppLegendInterface : public QgsLegendInterface
     //! Update an index
     void updateIndex( QModelIndex oldIndex, QModelIndex newIndex );
 
+    //! Show layer properties
+    void legendLayerShowProperties();
+
   private:
 
     //! Pointer to QgsLegend object
diff --git a/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h b/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h
index 8e20b4af1de..3d26d1acba8 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h
+++ b/src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsLegendInterface : public QObject
 
     //! Move a layer to a group
     virtual void moveLayer( QgsMapLayer * ml, int groupIndex ) = 0;
+
+    //! Show layer properties dialog
+    // @note added in 1.5
+    virtual void legendLayerShowProperties() = 0;
 };
 
 #endif