diff --git a/include/wlr/types/wlr_buffer.h b/include/wlr/types/wlr_buffer.h
index 9a655dd2b..91543b5ea 100644
--- a/include/wlr/types/wlr_buffer.h
+++ b/include/wlr/types/wlr_buffer.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ struct wlr_buffer {
 	struct {
 		struct wl_signal destroy;
 		struct wl_signal release;
+		struct wl_signal prerelease;
 	} events;
 
 	struct wlr_addon_set addons;
diff --git a/types/buffer/buffer.c b/types/buffer/buffer.c
index 953207a2c..ef744f1b5 100644
--- a/types/buffer/buffer.c
+++ b/types/buffer/buffer.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ void wlr_buffer_init(struct wlr_buffer *buffer,
 	};
 	wl_signal_init(&buffer->events.destroy);
 	wl_signal_init(&buffer->events.release);
+	wl_signal_init(&buffer->events.prerelease);
 	wlr_addon_set_init(&buffer->addons);
 }
 
@@ -58,6 +59,10 @@ void wlr_buffer_unlock(struct wlr_buffer *buffer) {
 	assert(buffer->n_locks > 0);
 	buffer->n_locks--;
 
+	if (buffer->n_locks == 0) {
+		wl_signal_emit_mutable(&buffer->events.prerelease, NULL);
+	}
+
 	if (buffer->n_locks == 0) {
 		wl_signal_emit_mutable(&buffer->events.release, NULL);
 	}