diff --git a/include/con.h b/include/con.h
index 498fcbaa..4813b776 100644
--- a/include/con.h
+++ b/include/con.h
@@ -42,12 +42,19 @@ bool con_is_leaf(Con *con);
  */
 bool con_has_managed_window(Con *con);
 
-/*
+/**
  * Returns true if a container should be considered split.
  *
  */
 bool con_is_split(Con *con);
 
+/**
+ * This will only return true for containers which have some parent with
+ * a tabbed / stacked parent of which they are not the currently focused child.
+ *
+ */
+bool con_is_hidden(Con *con);
+
 /**
  * Returns true if this node has regular or floating children.
  *
diff --git a/src/con.c b/src/con.c
index aefe756c..05f608bd 100644
--- a/src/con.c
+++ b/src/con.c
@@ -260,6 +260,29 @@ bool con_is_split(Con *con) {
     }
 }
 
+/*
+ * This will only return true for containers which have some parent with
+ * a tabbed / stacked parent of which they are not the currently focused child.
+ *
+ */
+bool con_is_hidden(Con *con) {
+    Con *current = con;
+
+    /* ascend to the workspace level and memorize the highest-up container
+     * which is stacked or tabbed. */
+    while (current != NULL && current->type != CT_WORKSPACE) {
+        Con *parent = current->parent;
+        if (parent != NULL && (parent->layout == L_TABBED || parent->layout == L_STACKED)) {
+            if (TAILQ_FIRST(&(parent->focus_head)) != current)
+                return true;
+        }
+
+        current = parent;
+    }
+
+    return false;
+}
+
 /*
  * Returns true if this node accepts a window (if the node swallows windows,
  * it might already have swallowed enough and cannot hold any more).