diff --git a/headers/os/interface/Bitmap.h b/headers/os/interface/Bitmap.h
index 8f2106b2b8..91788877ba 100644
--- a/headers/os/interface/Bitmap.h
+++ b/headers/os/interface/Bitmap.h
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ class BBitmap : public BArchivable {
 		int32 BytesPerRow() const;
 		color_space ColorSpace() const;
 		BRect Bounds() const;
+		uint32 Flags() const;
 
 		void SetBits(const void *data, int32 length, int32 offset,
 					 color_space colorSpace);
diff --git a/src/kits/interface/Bitmap.cpp b/src/kits/interface/Bitmap.cpp
index 8ee838f1bf..973663b765 100644
--- a/src/kits/interface/Bitmap.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/interface/Bitmap.cpp
@@ -350,6 +350,8 @@ BBitmap::IsValid() const
 status_t
 BBitmap::LockBits(uint32 *state)
 {
+	// NOTE: maybe this is used to prevent the app_server from
+	// drawing the bitmap yet?
 	return B_ERROR;
 }
 
@@ -423,6 +425,21 @@ BBitmap::Bounds() const
 	return fBounds;
 }
 
+// Flags
+/*!	\brief Returns the bitmap's creating flags.
+
+	This method informs about which flags have been used to create the
+	bitmap. It would for example tell you wether this is an overlay
+	bitmap. If bitmap creation succeeded, all flags are fulfilled.
+
+	\return The bitmap's creation flags.
+*/
+uint32
+BBitmap::Flags() const
+{
+	return fFlags;
+}
+
 
 // SetBits
 /*!	\brief Assigns data to the bitmap.