diff --git a/format.c b/format.c
index b64af61e..d6bc9ceb 100644
--- a/format.c
+++ b/format.c
@@ -1371,6 +1371,9 @@ format_defaults_pane(struct format_tree *ft, struct window_pane *wp)
 	}
 
 	format_add(ft, "pane_in_mode", "%d", wp->screen != &wp->base);
+	if (wp->mode != NULL)
+		format_add(ft, "pane_mode", "%s", wp->mode->name);
+
 	format_add(ft, "pane_synchronized", "%d",
 	    !!options_get_number(wp->window->options, "synchronize-panes"));
 	format_add(ft, "pane_search_string", "%s",
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index 39e8d0df..96320f56 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -3561,6 +3561,7 @@ The following variables are available, where appropriate:
 .It Li "pane_input_off" Ta "" Ta "If input to pane is disabled"
 .It Li "pane_index" Ta "#P" Ta "Index of pane"
 .It Li "pane_left" Ta "" Ta "Left of pane"
+.It Li "pane_mode" Ta "" Ta "Name of pane mode, if any."
 .It Li "pane_pid" Ta "" Ta "PID of first process in pane"
 .It Li "pane_right" Ta "" Ta "Right of pane"
 .It Li "pane_search_string" Ta "" Ta "Last search string in copy mode"
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index 378c937a..1b1343b7 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -689,15 +689,18 @@ struct screen_write_ctx {
  * right function to handle input and output.
  */
 struct window_mode {
-	struct screen *(*init)(struct window_pane *);
-	void	(*free)(struct window_pane *);
-	void	(*resize)(struct window_pane *, u_int, u_int);
-	void	(*key)(struct window_pane *, struct client *, struct session *,
-		    key_code, struct mouse_event *);
+	const char	*name;
 
-	const char *(*key_table)(struct window_pane *);
-	void	(*command)(struct window_pane *, struct client *,
-		    struct session *, struct args *, struct mouse_event *);
+	struct screen	*(*init)(struct window_pane *);
+	void		 (*free)(struct window_pane *);
+	void		 (*resize)(struct window_pane *, u_int, u_int);
+	void		 (*key)(struct window_pane *, struct client *,
+			     struct session *, key_code, struct mouse_event *);
+
+	const char	*(*key_table)(struct window_pane *);
+	void		 (*command)(struct window_pane *, struct client *,
+			     struct session *, struct args *,
+			     struct mouse_event *);
 };
 #define WINDOW_MODE_TIMEOUT 180
 
diff --git a/window-choose.c b/window-choose.c
index 0e2f1bf9..2f3a1631 100644
--- a/window-choose.c
+++ b/window-choose.c
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ enum window_choose_input_type {
 };
 
 const struct window_mode window_choose_mode = {
+	.name = "choose-mode",
+
 	.init = window_choose_init,
 	.free = window_choose_free,
 	.resize = window_choose_resize,
diff --git a/window-clock.c b/window-clock.c
index 94f014fc..d23ac136 100644
--- a/window-clock.c
+++ b/window-clock.c
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ static void	window_clock_timer_callback(int, short, void *);
 static void	window_clock_draw_screen(struct window_pane *);
 
 const struct window_mode window_clock_mode = {
+	.name = "clock-mode",
+
 	.init = window_clock_init,
 	.free = window_clock_free,
 	.resize = window_clock_resize,
diff --git a/window-copy.c b/window-copy.c
index 7def63db..8424bfa6 100644
--- a/window-copy.c
+++ b/window-copy.c
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@ static void	window_copy_move_mouse(struct mouse_event *);
 static void	window_copy_drag_update(struct client *, struct mouse_event *);
 
 const struct window_mode window_copy_mode = {
+	.name = "copy-mode",
+
 	.init = window_copy_init,
 	.free = window_copy_free,
 	.resize = window_copy_resize,