diff --git a/debian/libwireshark0.symbols b/debian/libwireshark0.symbols
index 0565232bd5..0c703b8507 100644
--- a/debian/libwireshark0.symbols
+++ b/debian/libwireshark0.symbols
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ libwireshark.so.0 libwireshark0 #MINVER#
  conv_filter_list@Base 2.0.0
  conversation_add_proto_data@Base 1.9.1
  conversation_delete_proto_data@Base 1.9.1
+ conversation_filter_from_packet@Base 2.2.8
  conversation_get_dissector@Base 2.0.0
  conversation_get_proto_data@Base 1.9.1
  conversation_new@Base 1.9.1
diff --git a/epan/dissector_filters.c b/epan/dissector_filters.c
index 13a02c6c44..76335d113b 100644
--- a/epan/dissector_filters.c
+++ b/epan/dissector_filters.c
@@ -73,6 +73,24 @@ void conversation_filters_cleanup(void)
     g_list_free(conv_filter_list);
 }
 
+gchar *conversation_filter_from_packet(struct _packet_info *pinfo)
+{
+    const char *layers[] = { "tcp", "udp", "ip", "ipv6", "eth" };
+    conversation_filter_t *conv_filter;
+    gchar *filter;
+    size_t i;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS(layers); i++) {
+        conv_filter = find_conversation_filter(layers[i]);
+        if (conv_filter && conv_filter->is_filter_valid(pinfo)) {
+            if ((filter = conv_filter->build_filter_string(pinfo)) != NULL)
+                return filter;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return NULL;
+}
+
 /*
  * Editor modelines  -  http://www.wireshark.org/tools/modelines.html
  *
diff --git a/epan/dissector_filters.h b/epan/dissector_filters.h
index 44bca5d79b..7924e0177b 100644
--- a/epan/dissector_filters.h
+++ b/epan/dissector_filters.h
@@ -49,6 +49,15 @@ WS_DLL_PUBLIC struct conversation_filter_s* find_conversation_filter(const char
 /* Cleanup internal structures */
 extern void conversation_filters_cleanup(void);
 
+/**
+ * Tries to build a suitable display filter for the conversation in the current
+ * packet. More specific matches are tried first (like TCP ports) followed by
+ * less specific ones (IP addresses). NULL is returned when no filter is found.
+ *
+ * The returned filter should be freed with g_free.
+ */
+WS_DLL_PUBLIC gchar *conversation_filter_from_packet(struct _packet_info *pinfo);
+
 /*** THE FOLLOWING SHOULD NOT BE USED BY ANY DISSECTORS!!! ***/
 
 typedef struct conversation_filter_s {
diff --git a/ui/gtk/main_menubar.c b/ui/gtk/main_menubar.c
index a34be9c5ba..1d7b73979b 100644
--- a/ui/gtk/main_menubar.c
+++ b/ui/gtk/main_menubar.c
@@ -206,29 +206,7 @@ colorize_conversation_cb(conversation_filter_t* color_filter, int action_num)
                 * or through an accelerator key. Try to build a conversation
                 * filter in the order TCP, UDP, IP, Ethernet and apply the
                 * coloring */
-            color_filter = find_conversation_filter("tcp");
-            if ((color_filter != NULL) && (color_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-                filter = color_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-            if (filter == NULL) {
-                color_filter = find_conversation_filter("udp");
-                if ((color_filter != NULL) && (color_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-                    filter = color_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-            }
-            if (filter == NULL) {
-                color_filter = find_conversation_filter("ip");
-                if ((color_filter != NULL) && (color_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-                    filter = color_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-            }
-            if (filter == NULL) {
-                color_filter = find_conversation_filter("ipv6");
-                if ((color_filter != NULL) && (color_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-                    filter = color_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-            }
-            if (filter == NULL) {
-                color_filter = find_conversation_filter("eth");
-                if ((color_filter != NULL) && (color_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-                    filter = color_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-            }
+            filter = conversation_filter_from_packet(pi);
             if( filter == NULL ) {
                 simple_dialog(ESD_TYPE_ERROR, ESD_BTN_OK, "Unable to build conversation filter.");
                 return;
@@ -260,24 +238,11 @@ goto_conversation_frame(gboolean dir)
     dfilter_t *dfcode       = NULL;
     gboolean   found_packet = FALSE;
     packet_info *pi = &cfile.edt->pi;
-    conversation_filter_t* conv_filter;
 
     /* Try to build a conversation
      * filter in the order TCP, UDP, IP, Ethernet and apply the
      * coloring */
-    conv_filter = find_conversation_filter("tcp");
-    if ((conv_filter != NULL) && (conv_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-        filter = conv_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-    conv_filter = find_conversation_filter("udp");
-    if ((conv_filter != NULL) && (conv_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-        filter = conv_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-    conv_filter = find_conversation_filter("ip");
-    if ((conv_filter != NULL) && (conv_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-        filter = conv_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-    conv_filter = find_conversation_filter("ipv6");
-    if ((conv_filter != NULL) && (conv_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-        filter = conv_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-
+    filter = conversation_filter_from_packet(pi);
     if( filter == NULL ) {
         statusbar_push_temporary_msg("Unable to build conversation filter.");
         g_free(filter);
diff --git a/ui/qt/main_window_slots.cpp b/ui/qt/main_window_slots.cpp
index b2f849bc9b..51851e6caa 100644
--- a/ui/qt/main_window_slots.cpp
+++ b/ui/qt/main_window_slots.cpp
@@ -2505,31 +2505,7 @@ void MainWindow::colorizeConversation(bool create_rule)
     if (capture_file_.capFile() && capture_file_.capFile()->current_frame) {
         packet_info *pi = capture_file_.packetInfo();
         guint8 cc_num = colorize_action->data().toUInt();
-        gchar *filter = NULL;
-
-        const conversation_filter_t *color_filter = find_conversation_filter("tcp");
-        if ((color_filter != NULL) && (color_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-            filter = color_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-        if (filter == NULL) {
-            color_filter = find_conversation_filter("udp");
-            if ((color_filter != NULL) && (color_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-                filter = color_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-        }
-        if (filter == NULL) {
-            color_filter = find_conversation_filter("ip");
-            if ((color_filter != NULL) && (color_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-                filter = color_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-        }
-        if (filter == NULL) {
-            color_filter = find_conversation_filter("ipv6");
-            if ((color_filter != NULL) && (color_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-                filter = color_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-        }
-        if (filter == NULL) {
-            color_filter = find_conversation_filter("eth");
-            if ((color_filter != NULL) && (color_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-                filter = color_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-        }
+        gchar *filter = conversation_filter_from_packet(pi);
         if (filter == NULL) {
             main_ui_->statusBar->pushTemporaryStatus(tr("Unable to build conversation filter."));
             return;
@@ -3636,24 +3612,11 @@ void MainWindow::goToConversationFrame(bool go_next) {
     dfilter_t *dfcode       = NULL;
     gboolean   found_packet = FALSE;
     packet_info *pi = &(capture_file_.capFile()->edt->pi);
-    conversation_filter_t* conv_filter;
 
     /* Try to build a conversation
      * filter in the order TCP, UDP, IP, Ethernet and apply the
      * coloring */
-    conv_filter = find_conversation_filter("tcp");
-    if ((conv_filter != NULL) && (conv_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-        filter = conv_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-    conv_filter = find_conversation_filter("udp");
-    if ((conv_filter != NULL) && (conv_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-        filter = conv_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-    conv_filter = find_conversation_filter("ip");
-    if ((conv_filter != NULL) && (conv_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-        filter = conv_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-    conv_filter = find_conversation_filter("ipv6");
-    if ((conv_filter != NULL) && (conv_filter->is_filter_valid(pi)))
-        filter = conv_filter->build_filter_string(pi);
-
+    filter = conversation_filter_from_packet(pi);
     if (filter == NULL) {
         main_ui_->statusBar->pushTemporaryStatus(tr("Unable to build conversation filter."));
         g_free(filter);