diff --git a/src/core/DockRegistry.cpp b/src/core/DockRegistry.cpp
index 4edffa1f1..a0ba8775f 100644
--- a/src/core/DockRegistry.cpp
+++ b/src/core/DockRegistry.cpp
@@ -254,6 +254,20 @@ Core::Group *DockRegistry::groupInMDIResize() const
     return nullptr;
 }
 
+Vector<Core::DockWidget *> DockRegistry::dockwidgetsReferencedByDropArea(Core::DropArea *dropArea) const
+{
+    Vector<Core::DockWidget *> dockWidgets;
+
+    for (auto dw : m_dockWidgets) {
+        auto lastPositions = dw->d->lastPosition();
+        if (lastPositions->containsPlaceholderFromLayout(dropArea->asLayoutingHost())) {
+            dockWidgets.append(dw);
+        }
+    }
+
+    return dockWidgets;
+}
+
 void DockRegistry::setCurrentCloseReason(CloseReason reason)
 {
     d->m_currentCloseReason = reason;
diff --git a/src/core/DockRegistry.h b/src/core/DockRegistry.h
index 16533267c..f040b4b43 100644
--- a/src/core/DockRegistry.h
+++ b/src/core/DockRegistry.h
@@ -220,6 +220,13 @@ class DOCKS_EXPORT DockRegistry : public Core::Object, public Core::EventFilterI
     ///@brief Returns the Group which is being resized in a MDI layout. nullptr if none
     Core::Group *groupInMDIResize() const;
 
+
+    /// Returns all dock widgets which have a "previous position" in the specified DropArea
+    /// A DropArea is a layout of dock widgets, when a dock widget is closed, the layout will
+    /// still keep a placeholder for it, so it can be restored to the correct place. This function
+    /// returns all dock widgets that have such placeholder.
+    Vector<Core::DockWidget *> dockwidgetsReferencedByDropArea(Core::DropArea *) const;
+
     void setCurrentCloseReason(CloseReason);
     CloseReason currentCloseReason();