diff --git a/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_genlist.c b/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_genlist.c
index ccb21cdbf9..9683ec2a0b 100644
--- a/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_genlist.c
+++ b/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_genlist.c
@@ -6127,6 +6127,15 @@ elm_genlist_item_parent_get(const Elm_Object_Item *it)
    return (Elm_Object_Item *)((Elm_Gen_Item *)it)->parent;
 }
 
+EAPI unsigned int
+elm_genlist_item_subitems_count(const Elm_Object_Item *it)
+{
+   Elm_Gen_Item *item = (Elm_Gen_Item *)it;
+   ELM_GENLIST_ITEM_CHECK_OR_RETURN(it, 0);
+
+   return eina_list_count(item->item->items);
+}
+
 EAPI void
 elm_genlist_item_subitems_clear(Elm_Object_Item *item)
 {
diff --git a/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_genlist_common.h b/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_genlist_common.h
index 2d860ee188..8ce45933d5 100644
--- a/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_genlist_common.h
+++ b/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_genlist_common.h
@@ -558,6 +558,18 @@ EAPI Eina_Bool                     elm_genlist_item_cursor_engine_only_get(const
  */
 EAPI Elm_Object_Item             *elm_genlist_item_parent_get(const Elm_Object_Item *it);
 
+/**
+ * Get the number of subitems of a given item
+ *
+ * @param it The item
+ * @return The number of subitems, 0 on error
+ *
+ * This returns the number of subitems that an item possesses.
+ *
+ * @since 1.9
+ * @ingroup Genlist
+ */
+EAPI unsigned int                 elm_genlist_item_subitems_count(const Elm_Object_Item *it);
 /**
  * Remove all sub-items (children) of the given item
  *