diff --git a/src/ipa/libipa/exposure_mode_helper.cpp b/src/ipa/libipa/exposure_mode_helper.cpp
index 13dce50c48..6345a47c54 100644
--- a/src/ipa/libipa/exposure_mode_helper.cpp
+++ b/src/ipa/libipa/exposure_mode_helper.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <variant>
 
 #include <libcamera/base/log.h>
+#include <libcamera/base/utils.h>
 
 /**
  * \file exposure_mode_helper.h
@@ -382,6 +383,26 @@ ExposureModeHelper::splitExposure(utils::Duration exposure, std::span<const Stag
 		 exposure / (exposureTime * gain * quantGain) };
 }
 
+/**
+ * \brief Retrieve the maximum stage exposure time
+ *
+ * \return The largest configured stage exposure time,
+ *         or a default constructed Duration object
+ *         if not stages are configured
+ */
+utils::Duration
+ExposureModeHelper::maxStageExposureTime() const
+{
+	return std::visit(utils::overloaded {
+		[](const auto &) {
+			return utils::Duration{};
+		},
+		[](const std::vector<Stage> &stages) {
+			return stages.back().exposureTime;
+		},
+	}, mode_);
+}
+
 } /* namespace ipa */
 
 } /* namespace libcamera */
diff --git a/src/ipa/libipa/exposure_mode_helper.h b/src/ipa/libipa/exposure_mode_helper.h
index a6cfb83880..ce140192b5 100644
--- a/src/ipa/libipa/exposure_mode_helper.h
+++ b/src/ipa/libipa/exposure_mode_helper.h
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ public:
 
 	[[nodiscard]] Result splitExposure(utils::Duration exposure) const;
 
+	[[nodiscard]] utils::Duration maxStageExposureTime() const;
+
 private:
 	utils::Duration clampExposureTime(utils::Duration exposureTime,
 					  double *quantizationGain = nullptr) const;