diff --git a/kmfolder.h b/kmfolder.h
index c2c080d92..fbd345997 100644
--- a/kmfolder.h
+++ b/kmfolder.h
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ public:
   KMFolder(KMFolderDir* parent=0, const QString& name=QString::null);
   virtual ~KMFolder();
 
+  /** Returns the type of this folder */
+  virtual KMFolderType folderType() const = 0;
+
   /** Returns the filename of the folder (reimplemented in KMFolderImap) */
   virtual QString fileName() const { return name(); }
 
diff --git a/kmfolderimap.h b/kmfolderimap.h
index c7a2ac2e0..ecefcfb4a 100644
--- a/kmfolderimap.h
+++ b/kmfolderimap.h
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ public:
   KMFolderImap(KMFolderDir* parent=0, const QString& name=QString::null);
   virtual ~KMFolderImap();
 
+  /** Returns the type of this folder */
+  virtual KMFolderType folderType() const { return KMFolderTypeImap; }
+
   virtual QCString protocol() const { return "imap"; }
   virtual KMMessage* getMsg(int idx);
   /** The path to the imap folder on the server */
diff --git a/kmfoldermaildir.h b/kmfoldermaildir.h
index 51aa6793e..516375a0b 100644
--- a/kmfoldermaildir.h
+++ b/kmfoldermaildir.h
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ public:
   KMFolderMaildir(KMFolderDir* parent=0, const QString& name=QString::null);
   virtual ~KMFolderMaildir();
 
+  /** Returns the type of this folder */
+  virtual KMFolderType folderType() const { return KMFolderTypeMaildir; }
+
   /** Read a message and return a referece to a string */
   virtual QCString& getMsgString(int idx, QCString& mDest);
   virtual DwString getDwString(int idx);
diff --git a/kmfoldermbox.h b/kmfoldermbox.h
index 8832b4343..962e72ac2 100644
--- a/kmfoldermbox.h
+++ b/kmfoldermbox.h
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ public:
   KMFolderMbox(KMFolderDir* parent=0, const QString& name=QString::null);
   virtual ~KMFolderMbox();
 
+  /** Returns the type of this folder */
+  virtual KMFolderType folderType() const { return KMFolderTypeMbox; }
+
   /** Read a message and return a referece to a string */
   virtual QCString& getMsgString(int idx, QCString& mDest);
   DwString getDwString(int idx);
diff --git a/kmfoldersearch.h b/kmfoldersearch.h
index 117f6662a..1f9d22247 100644
--- a/kmfoldersearch.h
+++ b/kmfoldersearch.h
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ public:
   KMFolderSearch(KMFolderDir* parent=0, const QString& name=QString::null);
   virtual ~KMFolderSearch();
 
+  /** Returns the type of this folder */
+  virtual KMFolderType folderType() const { return KMFolderTypeSearch; }
+
   // Sets and runs the search used by the folder
   void setSearch(KMSearch *search);
   // Returns the current search used by the folder