diff --git a/src/mathed/math_cursor.C b/src/mathed/math_cursor.C
index 17d7d16c32..6a371a2a9b 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_cursor.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_cursor.C
@@ -670,12 +670,22 @@ void MathCursor::handleNest(MathAtom const & a)
 }
 
 
-void MathCursor::getPos(int & x, int & y)
+void MathCursor::getPos(int & x, int & y) const
 {
 	par()->getPos(idx(), pos(), x, y);
 }
 
 
+int MathCursor::targetX() const
+{
+	if (targetx_ != -1)
+		return targetx_;
+	int x = 0, y = 0;
+	getPos(x, y);
+	return x;
+}
+
+
 MathInset * MathCursor::par() const
 {
 	return cursor().par_;
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_cursor.h b/src/mathed/math_cursor.h
index bd2da28ad7..74903c75c0 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_cursor.h
+++ b/src/mathed/math_cursor.h
@@ -102,7 +102,9 @@ public:
 	/// in pixels from top of screen
 	void setPos(int x, int y);
 	/// in pixels from top of screen
-	void getPos(int & x, int & y);
+	void getPos(int & x, int & y) const;
+	/// in pixels from left of screen
+	int targetX() const;
 	/// current inset
 	MathInset * par() const;
 	/// return the next enclosing grid inset and the cursor's index in it