diff --git a/include/wx/generic/splitter.h b/include/wx/generic/splitter.h
index 2294f431e4..f2fbe2a906 100644
--- a/include/wx/generic/splitter.h
+++ b/include/wx/generic/splitter.h
@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ public:
     // Is the window split?
     bool IsSplit() const { return (m_windowTwo != nullptr); }
 
+    // Return true if wxSP_LIVE_UPDATE is always used.
+    bool AlwaysUsesLiveUpdate() const;
+
     // Sets the border size
     void SetBorderSize(int WXUNUSED(width)) { }
 
diff --git a/interface/wx/splitter.h b/interface/wx/splitter.h
index 4ff835b2ee..22d564a7ea 100644
--- a/interface/wx/splitter.h
+++ b/interface/wx/splitter.h
@@ -142,6 +142,20 @@ public:
     */
     virtual ~wxSplitterWindow();
 
+    /**
+        Returns true if splitter always behaves as if wxSP_LIVE_UPDATE were
+        specified.
+
+        This function returns true if non-live update mode is not supported and
+        live update is always used, even if wxSP_LIVE_UPDATE was not explicitly
+        specified.
+
+        @see wxClientDC::CanBeUsedForDrawing()
+
+        @since 3.3.0
+    */
+    bool AlwaysUsesLiveUpdate() const;
+
     /**
         Creation function, for two-step construction.
         See wxSplitterWindow() for details.
diff --git a/samples/splitter/splitter.cpp b/samples/splitter/splitter.cpp
index 3d100be780..cee9eafc03 100644
--- a/samples/splitter/splitter.cpp
+++ b/samples/splitter/splitter.cpp
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ MyFrame::MyFrame()
                       "Toggle sash invisibility");
     splitMenu->AppendSeparator();
 
-    splitMenu->AppendCheckItem(SPLIT_LIVE,
+    auto itemLive = splitMenu->AppendCheckItem(SPLIT_LIVE,
                                "&Live update\tCtrl-L",
                                "Toggle live update mode");
     splitMenu->AppendCheckItem(SPLIT_BORDER,
@@ -306,6 +306,12 @@ MyFrame::MyFrame()
     menuBar->Check(SPLIT_LIVE, true);
     m_splitter = new MySplitterWindow(this);
 
+    if ( m_splitter->AlwaysUsesLiveUpdate() )
+    {
+        // Only live update mode is supported, so this menu item can't be used.
+        itemLive->Enable(false);
+    }
+
     // If you use non-zero gravity you must initialize the splitter with its
     // correct initial size, otherwise it will change the sash position by a
     // huge amount when it's resized from its initial default size to its real
diff --git a/src/generic/splitter.cpp b/src/generic/splitter.cpp
index ed0dc2710d..5636704951 100644
--- a/src/generic/splitter.cpp
+++ b/src/generic/splitter.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ wxBEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(wxSplitterWindow, wxWindow)
 #endif // wxMSW
 wxEND_EVENT_TABLE()
 
+bool wxSplitterWindow::AlwaysUsesLiveUpdate() const
+{
+    return !wxClientDC::CanBeUsedForDrawing(this);
+}
+
 static bool IsLive(wxSplitterWindow* wnd)
 {
     // with wxSP_LIVE_UPDATE style the splitter windows are always resized
@@ -76,10 +81,7 @@ static bool IsLive(wxSplitterWindow* wnd)
     // draw the sash at the new position but only resize the windows when the
     // dragging is finished -- but drawing the sash is done using wxClientDC,
     // so check if we can use it and always use live resizing if we can't
-    if ( !wxClientDC::CanBeUsedForDrawing(wnd) )
-        return true;
-
-    return wnd->HasFlag(wxSP_LIVE_UPDATE);
+    return wnd->AlwaysUsesLiveUpdate() || wnd->HasFlag(wxSP_LIVE_UPDATE);
 }
 
 bool wxSplitterWindow::Create(wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID id,