diff --git a/include/ipc.h b/include/ipc.h
index 8172c782..c9c5b1cd 100644
--- a/include/ipc.h
+++ b/include/ipc.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ enum ipc_command_type {
 	IPC_GET_MARKS = 5,
 	IPC_GET_BAR_CONFIG = 6,
 	IPC_GET_VERSION = 7,
+	IPC_GET_BINDING_MODES = 8,
 
 	// sway-specific command types
 	IPC_GET_INPUTS = 100,
diff --git a/sway/ipc-server.c b/sway/ipc-server.c
index 197851cf..70a4141e 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-server.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-server.c
@@ -667,6 +667,20 @@ void ipc_client_handle_command(struct ipc_client *client) {
 		goto exit_cleanup;
 	}
 
+	case IPC_GET_BINDING_MODES:
+	{
+		json_object *modes = json_object_new_array();
+		for (int i = 0; i < config->modes->length; i++) {
+			struct sway_mode *mode = config->modes->items[i];
+			json_object_array_add(modes, json_object_new_string(mode->name));
+		}
+		const char *json_string = json_object_to_json_string(modes);
+		client_valid =
+			ipc_send_reply(client, json_string, (uint32_t)strlen(json_string));
+		json_object_put(modes); // free
+		goto exit_cleanup;
+	}
+
 	default:
 		wlr_log(WLR_INFO, "Unknown IPC command type %i", client->current_command);
 		goto exit_cleanup;
diff --git a/swaymsg/main.c b/swaymsg/main.c
index 542ca819..42e488f3 100644
--- a/swaymsg/main.c
+++ b/swaymsg/main.c
@@ -407,6 +407,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 		type = IPC_GET_BAR_CONFIG;
 	} else if (strcasecmp(cmdtype, "get_version") == 0) {
 		type = IPC_GET_VERSION;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(cmdtype, "get_binding_modes") == 0) {
+		type = IPC_GET_BINDING_MODES;
 	} else if (strcasecmp(cmdtype, "get_clipboard") == 0) {
 		type = IPC_GET_CLIPBOARD;
 	} else {
diff --git a/swaymsg/swaymsg.1.scd b/swaymsg/swaymsg.1.scd
index 1aa6a1b0..f9b600b9 100644
--- a/swaymsg/swaymsg.1.scd
+++ b/swaymsg/swaymsg.1.scd
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ _swaymsg_ [options...] [message]
 *get\_version*
 	Get JSON-encoded version information for the running instance of sway.
 
+*get\_binding\_modes*
+	Gets a JSON-encoded list of currently configured binding modes.
+
 *get\_clipboard*
 	Get JSON-encoded information about the clipboard.
 	Returns the current clipboard mime-types if called without