diff --git a/src/workspace-element.js b/src/workspace-element.js
index cddf47e37..15ffd236f 100644
--- a/src/workspace-element.js
+++ b/src/workspace-element.js
@@ -274,9 +274,7 @@ class WorkspaceElement extends HTMLElement {
     const paneView = pane.getElement()
     const box = this.boundingBoxForPaneView(paneView)
 
-    const center = atom.workspace.getCenter()
-    const visiblePaneContainers = atom.workspace.getPaneContainers()
-      .filter(container => container === center || container.isVisible())
+    const visiblePaneContainers = atom.workspace.getVisiblePaneContainers()
 
     const visiblePanes = _.flatten(visiblePaneContainers.map(container => container.getPanes()))
 
diff --git a/src/workspace.js b/src/workspace.js
index 414065203..faa30d04d 100644
--- a/src/workspace.js
+++ b/src/workspace.js
@@ -1532,6 +1532,12 @@ module.exports = class Workspace extends Model {
     ]
   }
 
+  getVisiblePaneContainers() {
+    const center = this.getCenter()
+    return atom.workspace.getPaneContainers()
+      .filter(container => container === center || container.isVisible())
+  }
+
   /*
   Section: Panels