diff --git a/backend/drm/fb.c b/backend/drm/fb.c
index 575f32d91..76086ef65 100644
--- a/backend/drm/fb.c
+++ b/backend/drm/fb.c
@@ -163,11 +163,10 @@ static struct wlr_drm_fb *drm_fb_create(struct wlr_drm_backend *drm,
 			attribs.modifier)) {
 		// The format isn't supported by the plane. Try stripping the alpha
 		// channel, if any.
-		const struct wlr_pixel_format_info *info =
-			drm_get_pixel_format_info(attribs.format);
-		if (info != NULL && info->opaque_substitute != DRM_FORMAT_INVALID &&
-				wlr_drm_format_set_has(formats, info->opaque_substitute, attribs.modifier)) {
-			attribs.format = info->opaque_substitute;
+		uint32_t opaque_substitute = pixel_format_get_opaque_substitute(attribs.format);
+		if (opaque_substitute != DRM_FORMAT_INVALID &&
+				wlr_drm_format_set_has(formats, opaque_substitute, attribs.modifier)) {
+			attribs.format = opaque_substitute;
 		} else {
 			wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Buffer format 0x%"PRIX32" with modifier "
 				"0x%"PRIX64" cannot be scanned out",
diff --git a/backend/drm/renderer.c b/backend/drm/renderer.c
index af9908e91..0d3aac501 100644
--- a/backend/drm/renderer.c
+++ b/backend/drm/renderer.c
@@ -157,11 +157,8 @@ bool drm_plane_pick_render_format(struct wlr_drm_plane *plane,
 
 	uint32_t format = DRM_FORMAT_ARGB8888;
 	if (!wlr_drm_format_set_get(&plane->formats, format)) {
-		const struct wlr_pixel_format_info *format_info =
-			drm_get_pixel_format_info(format);
-		assert(format_info != NULL &&
-			format_info->opaque_substitute != DRM_FORMAT_INVALID);
-		format = format_info->opaque_substitute;
+		format = pixel_format_get_opaque_substitute(format);
+		assert(format != DRM_FORMAT_INVALID);
 	}
 
 	const struct wlr_drm_format *render_format =
diff --git a/include/render/pixel_format.h b/include/render/pixel_format.h
index b5f2b2411..c49567759 100644
--- a/include/render/pixel_format.h
+++ b/include/render/pixel_format.h
@@ -68,4 +68,10 @@ bool pixel_format_has_alpha(uint32_t fmt);
  */
 bool pixel_format_is_ycbcr(uint32_t fmt);
 
+/**
+ * Get the equivalent opaque variant of a format if it has an alpha channel,
+ * DRM_FORMAT_INVALID otherwise.
+ */
+uint32_t pixel_format_get_opaque_substitute(uint32_t fmt);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/render/pixel_format.c b/render/pixel_format.c
index c60dd9d2a..3a9b92105 100644
--- a/render/pixel_format.c
+++ b/render/pixel_format.c
@@ -372,3 +372,11 @@ bool pixel_format_is_ycbcr(uint32_t format) {
 	}
 	return false;
 }
+
+uint32_t pixel_format_get_opaque_substitute(uint32_t fmt) {
+	const struct wlr_pixel_format_info *info = drm_get_pixel_format_info(fmt);
+	if (info == NULL) {
+		return DRM_FORMAT_INVALID;
+	}
+	return info->opaque_substitute;
+}