diff --git a/include/ipc.h b/include/ipc.h
index 7ae21ab31..ff0117502 100644
--- a/include/ipc.h
+++ b/include/ipc.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ enum ipc_command_type {
 	IPC_GET_CONFIG = 9,
 	IPC_SEND_TICK = 10,
 	IPC_SYNC = 11,
+	IPC_GET_BINDING_STATE = 12,
 
 	// sway-specific command types
 	IPC_GET_INPUTS = 100,
diff --git a/sway/ipc-server.c b/sway/ipc-server.c
index bd9f40bcc..87e5a97e0 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-server.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-server.c
@@ -895,6 +895,18 @@ void ipc_client_handle_command(struct ipc_client *client, uint32_t payload_lengt
 		goto exit_cleanup;
 	}
 
+	case IPC_GET_BINDING_STATE:
+	{
+		json_object *json = json_object_new_object();
+		json_object_object_add(json, "name",
+				json_object_new_string(config->current_mode->name));
+		const char *json_string = json_object_to_json_string(json);
+		ipc_send_reply(client, payload_type, json_string,
+			(uint32_t)strlen(json_string));
+		json_object_put(json); //free
+		goto exit_cleanup;
+	}
+
 	default:
 		sway_log(SWAY_INFO, "Unknown IPC command type %x", payload_type);
 		goto exit_cleanup;
diff --git a/sway/sway-ipc.7.scd b/sway/sway-ipc.7.scd
index 63e3ceb68..9b3a6134b 100644
--- a/sway/sway-ipc.7.scd
+++ b/sway/sway-ipc.7.scd
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ supported. *For all replies, any properties not listed are subject to removal.*
 |- 11
 :  SYNC
 :  Replies failure object for i3 compatibility
+|- 12
+:  GET_BINDING_STATE
+:  Get the currently active binding mode name
 |- 100
 :  GET_INPUTS
 :  Get the list of input devices
@@ -1067,6 +1070,22 @@ boolean value _false_.
 }
 ```
 
+## 12. GET_BINDING_STATE
+
+*MESSAGE*++
+Retrieve the name of the current binding mode
+
+*REPLY*++
+An object with a single string property _name_ with the name of the current
+binding mode.
+
+*Example Reply:*
+```
+{
+	"name": "default"
+}
+```
+
 ## 100. GET_INPUTS
 
 *MESSAGE*++
diff --git a/swaymsg/main.c b/swaymsg/main.c
index f9d3515aa..e19b07155 100644
--- a/swaymsg/main.c
+++ b/swaymsg/main.c
@@ -286,11 +286,18 @@ static void pretty_print_config(json_object *c) {
 	printf("%s\n", json_object_get_string(config));
 }
 
+static void pretty_print_binding_state(json_object *m) {
+	json_object *name;
+	json_object_object_get_ex(m, "name", &name);
+	printf("%s\n", json_object_get_string(name));
+}
+
 static void pretty_print(int type, json_object *resp) {
 	if (type != IPC_COMMAND && type != IPC_GET_WORKSPACES &&
 			type != IPC_GET_INPUTS && type != IPC_GET_OUTPUTS &&
 			type != IPC_GET_VERSION && type != IPC_GET_SEATS &&
-			type != IPC_GET_CONFIG && type != IPC_SEND_TICK) {
+			type != IPC_GET_CONFIG && type != IPC_SEND_TICK &&
+			type != IPC_GET_BINDING_STATE) {
 		printf("%s\n", json_object_to_json_string_ext(resp,
 			JSON_C_TO_STRING_PRETTY | JSON_C_TO_STRING_SPACED));
 		return;
@@ -310,6 +317,11 @@ static void pretty_print(int type, json_object *resp) {
 		return;
 	}
 
+	if (type == IPC_GET_BINDING_STATE) {
+		pretty_print_binding_state(resp);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	json_object *obj;
 	size_t len = json_object_array_length(resp);
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i) {
@@ -440,6 +452,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 		type = IPC_GET_VERSION;
 	} else if (strcasecmp(cmdtype, "get_binding_modes") == 0) {
 		type = IPC_GET_BINDING_MODES;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(cmdtype, "get_binding_state") == 0) {
+		type = IPC_GET_BINDING_STATE;
 	} else if (strcasecmp(cmdtype, "get_config") == 0) {
 		type = IPC_GET_CONFIG;
 	} else if (strcasecmp(cmdtype, "send_tick") == 0) {