diff --git a/include/gint/drivers/r61524.h b/include/gint/drivers/r61524.h
index c1b0ec9..5988e44 100644
--- a/include/gint/drivers/r61524.h
+++ b/include/gint/drivers/r61524.h
@@ -35,6 +35,17 @@ enum {
    @method  Transfer method, see above */
 void r61524_display(uint16_t *vram, int start, int height, int method);
 
+/* r61524_start_frame(): Prepare the display for a region update
+
+   This function sets up the display driver to receive graphics data to update
+   liens [start] to [start+height-1] (both included) of the current window.
+   This is the initial step of r61524_display(), which is normally followed by
+   writing all the data to 0xb4000000.
+
+   This function can be used to implement additional display driver update
+   methods or alternate rendering pipelines. */
+void r61524_start_frame(int start, int height);
+
 /* r162524_win_get() and r61524_win_set(): Manipulate the display window
 
    These functions change the screen rectangle where data is shown. Normally
@@ -47,6 +58,18 @@ void r61524_display(uint16_t *vram, int start, int height, int method);
 void r61524_win_get(uint16_t *HSA, uint16_t *HEA, uint16_t *VSA,uint16_t *VEA);
 void r61524_win_set(uint16_t HSA, uint16_t HEA, uint16_t VSA, uint16_t VEA);
 
+//---
+// Low-level functions
+//---
+
+/* r61524_get(): Read the value of an R61524 register
+   This is provided for testing and if you know what you're doing. */
+uint16_t r61524_get(int ID);
+
+/* r61524_set(): Write the value of an R61524 register
+   This is provided for testing and if you know what you're doing. */
+void r61524_set(int ID, uint16_t value);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/r61524/r61524.c b/src/r61524/r61524.c
index 8f976b5..5e72f6f 100644
--- a/src/r61524/r61524.c
+++ b/src/r61524/r61524.c
@@ -86,6 +86,18 @@ GINLINE static void write(uint16_t data)
 	*intf = data;
 }
 
+uint16_t r61524_get(int ID)
+{
+	select(ID);
+	return read();
+}
+
+void r61524_set(int ID, uint16_t value)
+{
+	select(ID);
+	write(value);
+}
+
 //---
 //	Window management
 //---
@@ -122,7 +134,7 @@ void r61524_win_set(uint16_t HSA, uint16_t HEA, uint16_t VSA, uint16_t VEA)
 
 /* TODO: r61524: update, backlight, brightness, gamma */
 
-void r61524_display(uint16_t *vram, int start, int height, int method)
+void r61524_start_frame(int start, int height)
 {
 	/* Move the window to the desired region, then select address 0 */
 	r61524_win_set(0, 395, start, start + height - 1);
@@ -133,6 +145,11 @@ void r61524_display(uint16_t *vram, int start, int height, int method)
 
 	/* Bind address 0xb4000000 to the data write command */
 	select(write_data);
+}
+
+void r61524_display(uint16_t *vram, int start, int height, int method)
+{
+	r61524_start_frame(start, height);
 
 	if(method == R61524_CPU)
 	{