diff --git a/completions/bash/swaymsg b/completions/bash/swaymsg
index 1211787d4..f865e4e1a 100644
--- a/completions/bash/swaymsg
+++ b/completions/bash/swaymsg
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ _swaymsg()
     'get_bar_config'
     'get_version'
     'get_binding_modes'
+    'get_binding_state'
     'get_config'
     'send_tick'
     'subscribe'
diff --git a/completions/fish/swaymsg.fish b/completions/fish/swaymsg.fish
index 25085f9a7..5ee7dcc0b 100644
--- a/completions/fish/swaymsg.fish
+++ b/completions/fish/swaymsg.fish
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ complete -c swaymsg -s t -l type -fra 'get_marks' --description "Get a JSON-enco
 complete -c swaymsg -s t -l type -fra 'get_bar_config' --description "Get a JSON-encoded configuration for swaybar."
 complete -c swaymsg -s t -l type -fra 'get_version' --description "Get JSON-encoded version information for the running instance of sway."
 complete -c swaymsg -s t -l type -fra 'get_binding_modes' --description "Gets a JSON-encoded list of currently configured binding modes."
+complete -c swaymsg -s t -l type -fra 'get_binding_state' --description "Get JSON-encoded info about the current binding state."
 complete -c swaymsg -s t -l type -fra 'get_config' --description "Gets a JSON-encoded copy of the current configuration."
 complete -c swaymsg -s t -l type -fra 'get_seats' --description "Gets a JSON-encoded list of all seats, its properties and all assigned devices."
 complete -c swaymsg -s t -l type -fra 'send_tick' --description "Sends a tick event to all subscribed clients."
diff --git a/completions/zsh/_swaymsg b/completions/zsh/_swaymsg
index 3f42a77d7..106f3d9dc 100644
--- a/completions/zsh/_swaymsg
+++ b/completions/zsh/_swaymsg
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ types=(
 'get_bar_config'
 'get_version'
 'get_binding_modes'
+'get_binding_state'
 'get_config'
 'send_tick'
 'subscribe'
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/include/sway/ipc-json.h b/include/sway/ipc-json.h
index 3e584dbbb..6f4ade1ac 100644
--- a/include/sway/ipc-json.h
+++ b/include/sway/ipc-json.h
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 
 json_object *ipc_json_get_version(void);
 
+json_object *ipc_json_get_binding_mode(void);
+
 json_object *ipc_json_describe_disabled_output(struct sway_output *o);
 json_object *ipc_json_describe_node(struct sway_node *node);
 json_object *ipc_json_describe_node_recursive(struct sway_node *node);
diff --git a/sway/ipc-json.c b/sway/ipc-json.c
index 066fd8db4..70b81ad1d 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-json.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-json.c
@@ -1261,3 +1261,10 @@ json_object *ipc_json_describe_bar_config(struct bar_config *bar) {
 #endif
 	return json;
 }
+
+json_object *ipc_json_get_binding_mode(void) {
+	json_object *current_mode = json_object_new_object();
+	json_object_object_add(current_mode, "name",
+			json_object_new_string(config->current_mode->name));
+	return current_mode;
+}
diff --git a/sway/ipc-server.c b/sway/ipc-server.c
index bd9f40bcc..62bdccb88 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-server.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-server.c
@@ -876,6 +876,16 @@ void ipc_client_handle_command(struct ipc_client *client, uint32_t payload_lengt
 		goto exit_cleanup;
 	}
 
+	case IPC_GET_BINDING_STATE:
+	{
+		json_object *current_mode = ipc_json_get_binding_mode();
+		const char *json_string = json_object_to_json_string(current_mode);
+		ipc_send_reply(client, payload_type, json_string,
+			(uint32_t)strlen(json_string));
+		json_object_put(current_mode); // free
+		goto exit_cleanup;
+	}
+
 	case IPC_GET_CONFIG:
 	{
 		json_object *json = json_object_new_object();
diff --git a/sway/sway-ipc.7.scd b/sway/sway-ipc.7.scd
index 63e3ceb68..495e2e7d3 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
+:  Request the current binding state, e.g. the currently active binding mode name.
 |- 100
 :  GET_INPUTS
 :  Get the list of input devices
@@ -1067,6 +1070,23 @@ boolean value _false_.
 }
 ```
 
+## 12. GET_BINDING_STATE
+
+*MESSAGE*++
+Returns the currently active binding mode.
+
+*REPLY*++
+A single object that contains the property _name_, which is set to the
+currently active binding mode as a string.
+
+*Exact Reply:*
+```
+{
+	"name": "default"
+}
+```
+
+
 ## 100. GET_INPUTS
 
 *MESSAGE*++
diff --git a/swaymsg/main.c b/swaymsg/main.c
index f9d3515aa..38976f9c2 100644
--- a/swaymsg/main.c
+++ b/swaymsg/main.c
@@ -440,6 +440,8 @@ 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) {
diff --git a/swaymsg/swaymsg.1.scd b/swaymsg/swaymsg.1.scd
index 515d745fd..b8a38b544 100644
--- a/swaymsg/swaymsg.1.scd
+++ b/swaymsg/swaymsg.1.scd
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ _swaymsg_ [options...] [message]
 *get\_binding\_modes*
 	Gets a JSON-encoded list of currently configured binding modes.
 
+*get\_binding\_state*
+	Gets JSON-encoded info about the current binding state.
+
 *get\_config*
 	Gets a JSON-encoded copy of the current configuration.