diff --git a/include/SDL_system.h b/include/SDL_system.h
index 7b776fdf1..77186b597 100644
--- a/include/SDL_system.h
+++ b/include/SDL_system.h
@@ -76,6 +76,18 @@ extern DECLSPEC SDL_bool SDLCALL SDL_DXGIGetOutputInfo( int displayIndex, int *a
 #endif /* __WIN32__ */
 
 
+/* Platform specific functions for Linux */
+#ifdef __LINUX__
+
+/**
+   \brief Sets the UNIX nice value for a thread, using setpriority() if possible, and RealtimeKit if available.
+
+   \return 0 on success, or -1 on error.
+ */
+extern DECLSPEC int SDLCALL SDL_LinuxSetThreadPriority(Sint64 threadID, int priority);
+ 
+#endif /* __LINUX__ */
+	
 /* Platform specific functions for iOS */
 #if defined(__IPHONEOS__) && __IPHONEOS__
 
diff --git a/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_overrides.h b/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_overrides.h
index 77a73e52c..b454e5a14 100644
--- a/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_overrides.h
+++ b/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_overrides.h
@@ -670,3 +670,4 @@
 #define SDL_log10 SDL_log10_REAL
 #define SDL_log10f SDL_log10f_REAL
 #define SDL_GameControllerMappingForDeviceIndex SDL_GameControllerMappingForDeviceIndex_REAL
+#define SDL_LinuxSetThreadPriority SDL_LinuxSetThreadPriority_REAL
diff --git a/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_procs.h b/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_procs.h
index 1b57a2a05..e4e6907cb 100644
--- a/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_procs.h
+++ b/src/dynapi/SDL_dynapi_procs.h
@@ -708,3 +708,6 @@ SDL_DYNAPI_PROC(SDL_bool,SDL_IsAndroidTV,(void),(),return)
 SDL_DYNAPI_PROC(double,SDL_log10,(double a),(a),return)
 SDL_DYNAPI_PROC(float,SDL_log10f,(float a),(a),return)
 SDL_DYNAPI_PROC(char*,SDL_GameControllerMappingForDeviceIndex,(int a),(a),return)
+#ifdef __LINUX__
+SDL_DYNAPI_PROC(int,SDL_LinuxSetThreadPriority,(Sint64 a, int b),(a,b),return)
+#endif
diff --git a/src/thread/pthread/SDL_systhread.c b/src/thread/pthread/SDL_systhread.c
index 3abb4da13..8e48368b1 100644
--- a/src/thread/pthread/SDL_systhread.c
+++ b/src/thread/pthread/SDL_systhread.c
@@ -238,6 +238,31 @@ rtkit_setpriority(pid_t thread, int nice_level)
 
 #endif /* !SDL_USE_LIBDBUS */
 
+#if __LINUX__
+int
+SDL_LinuxSetThreadPriority(Sint64 threadID, int priority)
+{
+    if (setpriority(PRIO_PROCESS, (id_t)threadID, priority) < 0) {
+        /* Note that this fails if you're trying to set high priority
+           and you don't have root permission. BUT DON'T RUN AS ROOT!
+
+           You can grant the ability to increase thread priority by
+           running the following command on your application binary:
+               sudo setcap 'cap_sys_nice=eip' <application>
+
+           Let's try setting priority with RealtimeKit...
+
+           README and sample code at:
+             http://git.0pointer.net/rtkit.git
+         */
+        if (rtkit_setpriority((pid_t)threadID, priority) == SDL_FALSE) {
+            return SDL_SetError("setpriority() failed");
+        }
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+#endif /* __LINUX__ */
+
 int
 SDL_SYS_SetThreadPriority(SDL_ThreadPriority priority)
 {
@@ -255,24 +280,7 @@ SDL_SYS_SetThreadPriority(SDL_ThreadPriority priority)
     } else {
         value = 0;
     }
-    if (setpriority(PRIO_PROCESS, thread, value) < 0) {
-        /* Note that this fails if you're trying to set high priority
-           and you don't have root permission. BUT DON'T RUN AS ROOT!
-
-           You can grant the ability to increase thread priority by
-           running the following command on your application binary:
-               sudo setcap 'cap_sys_nice=eip' <application>
-
-           Let's try setting priority with RealtimeKit...
-
-           README and sample code at:
-             http://git.0pointer.net/rtkit.git
-         */
-        if (rtkit_setpriority(thread, value) == SDL_FALSE) {
-            return SDL_SetError("setpriority() failed");
-        }
-    }
-    return 0;
+    return SDL_LinuxSetThreadPriority(thread, value);
 #else
     struct sched_param sched;
     int policy;