diff --git a/eek/eek-key.c b/eek/eek-key.c
index 3540e8f3..6a0ba887 100644
--- a/eek/eek-key.c
+++ b/eek/eek-key.c
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ struct _EekKeyPrivate
     EekOutline *outline;
     gint group;
     gint level;
+    gboolean is_pressed;
 };
 
 static void
@@ -210,8 +211,8 @@ eek_key_real_set_keysym_index (EekKey *self,
 
 static void
 eek_key_real_get_keysym_index (EekKey *self,
-                                      gint   *group,
-                                      gint   *level)
+                               gint   *group,
+                               gint   *level)
 {
     EekKeyPrivate *priv = EEK_KEY_GET_PRIVATE(self);
 
@@ -223,19 +224,32 @@ eek_key_real_get_keysym_index (EekKey *self,
         *level = priv->level;
 }
 
-static void
-eek_key_real_pressed (EekKey *key)
+static gboolean
+eek_key_real_is_pressed (EekKey *self)
 {
+    EekKeyPrivate *priv = EEK_KEY_GET_PRIVATE(self);
+    return priv->is_pressed;
+}
+
+static void
+eek_key_real_pressed (EekKey *self)
+{
+    EekKeyPrivate *priv = EEK_KEY_GET_PRIVATE(self);
+
+    priv->is_pressed = TRUE;
 #if DEBUG
-    g_debug ("pressed %X", eek_key_get_keycode (key));
+    g_debug ("pressed %X", eek_key_get_keycode (self));
 #endif
 }
 
 static void
-eek_key_real_released (EekKey *key)
+eek_key_real_released (EekKey *self)
 {
+    EekKeyPrivate *priv = EEK_KEY_GET_PRIVATE(self);
+
+    priv->is_pressed = FALSE;
 #if DEBUG
-    g_debug ("released %X", eek_key_get_keycode (key));
+    g_debug ("released %X", eek_key_get_keycode (self));
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -367,6 +381,7 @@ eek_key_class_init (EekKeyClass *klass)
     klass->get_outline = eek_key_real_get_outline;
     klass->set_keysym_index = eek_key_real_set_keysym_index;
     klass->get_keysym_index = eek_key_real_get_keysym_index;
+    klass->is_pressed = eek_key_real_is_pressed;
 
     gobject_class->set_property = eek_key_set_property;
     gobject_class->get_property = eek_key_get_property;
@@ -695,3 +710,10 @@ eek_key_get_keysym_index (EekKey *key,
     g_return_if_fail (EEK_IS_KEY(key));
     EEK_KEY_GET_CLASS(key)->get_keysym_index (key, group, level);
 }
+
+gboolean
+eek_key_is_pressed (EekKey *key)
+{
+    g_assert (EEK_IS_KEY(key));
+    return EEK_KEY_GET_CLASS(key)->is_pressed (key);
+}
diff --git a/eek/eek-key.h b/eek/eek-key.h
index 524f9f35..fea9e80e 100644
--- a/eek/eek-key.h
+++ b/eek/eek-key.h
@@ -98,10 +98,15 @@ struct _EekKeyClass
     void        (* get_keysym_index) (EekKey     *self,
                                       gint       *group,
                                       gint       *level);
+    gboolean    (* is_pressed)       (EekKey     *self);
 
     /* signals */
     void        (* pressed)          (EekKey     *key);
     void        (* released)         (EekKey     *key);
+
+    /*< private >*/
+    /* padding */
+    gpointer pdummy[23];
 };
 
 GType       eek_key_get_type         (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
@@ -136,6 +141,7 @@ void        eek_key_set_keysym_index (EekKey     *key,
 void        eek_key_get_keysym_index (EekKey     *key,
                                       gint       *group,
                                       gint       *level);
+gboolean    eek_key_is_pressed       (EekKey     *key);
 
 G_END_DECLS
 #endif  /* EEK_KEY_H */