diff --git a/src/server/subcompositor_interface.h b/src/server/subcompositor_interface.h
--- a/src/server/subcompositor_interface.h
+++ b/src/server/subcompositor_interface.h
@@ -82,8 +82,20 @@
      **/
     bool isSynchronized() const;
 
+    // TODO: remove with ABI break (KF6)
     QPointer<SurfaceInterface> surface();
+    /**
+     * @returns The surface this SubSurfaceInterface was created on.
+     * @since 5.7
+     **/
+    QPointer<SurfaceInterface> surface() const;
+    // TODO: remove with ABI break (KF6)
     QPointer<SurfaceInterface> parentSurface();
+    /**
+     * @returns The parent surface for which this SubSurfaceInterface is a child
+     * @since 5.7
+     **/
+    QPointer<SurfaceInterface> parentSurface() const;
 
     /**
      * @returns the main surface for the sub-surface tree, that is the first surface without a parent
diff --git a/src/server/subcompositor_interface.cpp b/src/server/subcompositor_interface.cpp
--- a/src/server/subcompositor_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/server/subcompositor_interface.cpp
@@ -295,12 +295,26 @@
 
 QPointer<SurfaceInterface> SubSurfaceInterface::surface()
 {
+    // TODO: remove with ABI break (KF6)
+    Q_D();
+    return d->surface;
+}
+
+QPointer<SurfaceInterface> SubSurfaceInterface::surface() const
+{
     Q_D();
     return d->surface;
 }
 
 QPointer<SurfaceInterface> SubSurfaceInterface::parentSurface()
 {
+    // TODO: remove with ABI break (KF6)
+    Q_D();
+    return d->parent;
+}
+
+QPointer<SurfaceInterface> SubSurfaceInterface::parentSurface() const
+{
     Q_D();
     return d->parent;
 }