diff --git a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.h b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.h
index cf69460e050..abf1141993f 100644
--- a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.h
+++ b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format.h
@@ -788,7 +788,6 @@ util_format_is_rgba8_variant(const struct util_format_description *desc)
    return TRUE;
 }
 
-
 /**
  * Return total bits needed for the pixel format per block.
  */
@@ -1265,6 +1264,22 @@ util_format_get_first_non_void_channel(enum pipe_format format)
    return i;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Whether this format is any 8-bit UNORM variant. Looser than
+ * util_is_rgba8_variant (also includes alpha textures, for instance).
+ */
+
+static inline bool
+util_format_is_unorm8(const struct util_format_description *desc)
+{
+   int c = util_format_get_first_non_void_channel(desc->format);
+
+   if (c == -1)
+      return false;
+
+   return desc->is_unorm && desc->is_array && desc->channel[c].size == 8;
+}
+
 /*
  * Format access functions.
  */