diff --git a/src/lib/indexerconfig.h b/src/lib/indexerconfig.h
--- a/src/lib/indexerconfig.h
+++ b/src/lib/indexerconfig.h
@@ -37,6 +37,18 @@
 
     bool shouldBeIndexed(const QString& path) const;
 
+    /**
+     * Check if \p folder can be searched taking only
+     * the includeFolders() into account.
+     *
+     * A path can be searched if itself or one of
+     * its descendants should be indexed.
+     *
+     * \return \p true if the \p folder should
+     * be searched.
+     */
+    bool canBeSearched(const QString& folder) const;
+    
     QStringList includeFolders() const;
     QStringList excludeFolders() const;
     QStringList excludeFilters() const;
diff --git a/src/lib/indexerconfig.cpp b/src/lib/indexerconfig.cpp
--- a/src/lib/indexerconfig.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/indexerconfig.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@
     return d->m_config.shouldBeIndexed(path);
 }
 
+
+bool IndexerConfig::canBeSearched(const QString& folder) const
+{
+    return d->m_config.canBeSearched(folder);
+}
+
 QStringList IndexerConfig::excludeFolders() const
 {
     return d->m_config.excludeFolders();