diff --git a/include/wlr/render/timeline.h b/include/wlr/render/timeline.h
index f4d07e634..dc799c8d7 100644
--- a/include/wlr/render/timeline.h
+++ b/include/wlr/render/timeline.h
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ struct wlr_render_timeline;
  * Create a new synchronization timeline.
  */
 struct wlr_render_timeline *wlr_render_timeline_create(int drm_fd);
+/**
+ * Import a timeline from a drm_syncobj FD.
+ */
+struct wlr_render_timeline *wlr_render_timeline_import(int drm_fd,
+	int drm_syncobj_fd);
 /**
  * Destroy a synchronization timeline.
  */
diff --git a/render/timeline.c b/render/timeline.c
index a69f06d18..df98b5325 100644
--- a/render/timeline.c
+++ b/render/timeline.c
@@ -26,6 +26,23 @@ struct wlr_render_timeline *wlr_render_timeline_create(int drm_fd) {
 	return timeline;
 }
 
+struct wlr_render_timeline *wlr_render_timeline_import(int drm_fd,
+		int drm_syncobj_fd) {
+	struct wlr_render_timeline *timeline = calloc(1, sizeof(*timeline));
+	if (timeline == NULL) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	timeline->drm_fd = drm_fd;
+
+	if (drmSyncobjFDToHandle(drm_fd, drm_syncobj_fd, &timeline->handle) != 0) {
+		wlr_log_errno(WLR_ERROR, "drmSyncobjFDToHandle failed");
+		free(timeline);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	return timeline;
+}
+
 void wlr_render_timeline_destroy(struct wlr_render_timeline *timeline) {
 	drmSyncobjDestroy(timeline->drm_fd, timeline->handle);
 	free(timeline);