diff --git a/lib/awful/tag.lua b/lib/awful/tag.lua
index 17ee0fb10..11e80fff6 100644
--- a/lib/awful/tag.lua
+++ b/lib/awful/tag.lua
@@ -745,6 +745,10 @@ function tag.object.set_layout(t, layout)
     return layout
 end
 
+function tag.object.get_layout(t)
+    return tag.getproperty(t, "layout") or require("awful.layout.suit.floating")
+end
+
 --- Set layout.
 -- @deprecated awful.tag.setlayout
 -- @see layout
diff --git a/tests/test-awful-tag.lua b/tests/test-awful-tag.lua
index 6abf12214..c299862d8 100644
--- a/tests/test-awful-tag.lua
+++ b/tests/test-awful-tag.lua
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ local steps = {
             assert(beautiful.awesome_icon)
 
             local t = awful.tag.add("Test", {clients={c}, icon = beautiful.awesome_icon})
+            assert(t.layout == awful.layout.suit.floating)
 
             check_order()