diff --git a/modules/oojs-ui/OO.ui.Element.js b/modules/oojs-ui/OO.ui.Element.js
index a212000cbb..903ef25276 100644
--- a/modules/oojs-ui/OO.ui.Element.js
+++ b/modules/oojs-ui/OO.ui.Element.js
@@ -82,22 +82,22 @@ OO.ui.Element.getJQuery = function ( context, frame ) {
  * Get the document of an element.
  *
  * @static
- * @param {jQuery|HTMLElement|HTMLDocument|Window} context Context to bind the function to
+ * @param {jQuery|HTMLElement|HTMLDocument|Window} obj Object to get the document for
  * @returns {HTMLDocument} Document object
  * @throws {Error} If context is invalid
  */
-OO.ui.Element.getDocument = function ( context ) {
+OO.ui.Element.getDocument = function ( obj ) {
 	var doc =
 		// jQuery - selections created "offscreen" won't have a context, so .context isn't reliable
-		( context[0] && context[0].ownerDocument ) ||
+		( obj[0] && obj[0].ownerDocument ) ||
 		// Empty jQuery selections might have a context
-		context.context ||
+		obj.context ||
 		// HTMLElement
-		context.ownerDocument ||
+		obj.ownerDocument ||
 		// Window
-		context.document ||
+		obj.document ||
 		// HTMLDocument
-		( context.nodeType === 9 && context );
+		( obj.nodeType === 9 && obj );
 
 	if ( doc ) {
 		return doc;
@@ -110,14 +110,38 @@ OO.ui.Element.getDocument = function ( context ) {
  * Get the window of an element or document.
  *
  * @static
- * @param {jQuery|HTMLElement|HTMLDocument|Window} context Context to bind the function to
+ * @param {jQuery|HTMLElement|HTMLDocument|Window} obj Context to get the window for
  * @returns {Window} Window object
  */
-OO.ui.Element.getWindow = function ( context ) {
-	var doc = this.getDocument( context );
+OO.ui.Element.getWindow = function ( obj ) {
+	var doc = this.getDocument( obj );
 	return doc.parentWindow || doc.defaultView;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Get the direction of an element or document.
+ *
+ * @static
+ * @param {jQuery|HTMLElement|HTMLDocument|Window} obj Context to get the direction for
+ * @returns {string} Text direction, either `ltr` or `rtl`
+ */
+OO.ui.Element.getDir = function ( obj ) {
+	var isDoc, isWin;
+
+	if ( obj instanceof jQuery ) {
+		obj = obj[0];
+	}
+	isDoc = obj.nodeType === 9;
+	isWin = obj.document !== undefined;
+	if ( isDoc || isWin ) {
+		if ( isWin ) {
+			obj = obj.document;
+		}
+		obj = obj.body;
+	}
+	return $( obj ).css( 'direction' );
+};
+
 /**
  * Get the offset between two frames.
  *
diff --git a/modules/oojs-ui/layouts/OO.ui.GridLayout.js b/modules/oojs-ui/layouts/OO.ui.GridLayout.js
index 729dabd2f5..fe62da90c2 100644
--- a/modules/oojs-ui/layouts/OO.ui.GridLayout.js
+++ b/modules/oojs-ui/layouts/OO.ui.GridLayout.js
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ OO.ui.GridLayout.prototype.update = function () {
 				'top': Math.round( top * 100 ) + '%'
 			};
 			// If RTL, reverse:
-			if ( this.$.frame.dir === 'rtl' ) {
+			if ( OO.ui.Element.getDir( this.$.context ) === 'rtl' ) {
 				dimensions.right = Math.round( left * 100 ) + '%';
 			} else {
 				dimensions.left = Math.round( left * 100 ) + '%';
diff --git a/modules/oojs-ui/layouts/OO.ui.PanelLayout.js b/modules/oojs-ui/layouts/OO.ui.PanelLayout.js
index 5c7ca6163f..9d9dc33f78 100644
--- a/modules/oojs-ui/layouts/OO.ui.PanelLayout.js
+++ b/modules/oojs-ui/layouts/OO.ui.PanelLayout.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ OO.ui.PanelLayout = function OoUiPanelLayout( config ) {
 	}
 
 	// Add directionality class:
-	this.$element.addClass( 'oo-ui-' + this.$.frame.dir );
+	this.$element.addClass( 'oo-ui-' + OO.ui.Element.getDir( this.$.context ) );
 };
 
 /* Inheritance */