diff --git a/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.cpp b/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.cpp
index f198f108da..a33c4e2996 100644
--- a/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.cpp
+++ b/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.cpp
@@ -172,6 +172,23 @@ QObject *QPluginLoader::instance()
     return d->inst.data();
 }
 
+/*!
+    Returns the meta data for this plugin. The meta data is data specified
+    in a json format using the Q_PLUGIN_METADATA() macro when compiling
+    the plugin.
+
+    The meta data can be queried in a fast and inexpensive way without
+    actually loading the plugin. This makes it possible to e.g. store
+    capabilities of the plugin in there, and make the decision whether to
+    load the plugin dependent on this meta data.
+ */
+QJsonObject QPluginLoader::metaData() const
+{
+    if (!d)
+        return QJsonObject();
+    return d->metaData;
+}
+
 /*!
     Loads the plugin and returns true if the plugin was loaded
     successfully; otherwise returns false. Since instance() always
diff --git a/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.h b/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.h
index 0e62d3660b..99b44fd559 100644
--- a/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.h
+++ b/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ QT_BEGIN_HEADER
 QT_BEGIN_NAMESPACE
 
 class QLibraryPrivate;
+class QJsonObject;
 
 class Q_CORE_EXPORT QPluginLoader : public QObject
 {
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ public:
     ~QPluginLoader();
 
     QObject *instance();
+    QJsonObject metaData() const;
 
     static QObjectList staticInstances();