diff --git a/components/devtools/actors/performance.rs b/components/devtools/actors/performance.rs
index 17687f10ff2..78c36885e5a 100644
--- a/components/devtools/actors/performance.rs
+++ b/components/devtools/actors/performance.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */
 
 use actor::{Actor, ActorMessageStatus, ActorRegistry};
-use protocol::JsonPacketStream;
+use protocol::{ActorDescription, JsonPacketStream, Method};
 use serde_json::Value;
 use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 use std::net::TcpStream;
@@ -70,4 +70,12 @@ impl PerformanceActor {
             name: name,
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn description() -> ActorDescription {
+        ActorDescription {
+            category: "actor",
+            typeName: "performance",
+            methods: vec![],
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/components/devtools/actors/root.rs b/components/devtools/actors/root.rs
index 1ce308403e8..6103e5a9a4f 100644
--- a/components/devtools/actors/root.rs
+++ b/components/devtools/actors/root.rs
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@
 /// that perform more specific actions (tabs, addons, browser chrome, etc.)
 
 use actor::{Actor, ActorMessageStatus, ActorRegistry};
+use actors::performance::PerformanceActor;
 use actors::tab::{TabActor, TabActorMsg};
-use protocol::JsonPacketStream;
+use protocol::{ActorDescription, JsonPacketStream};
 use serde_json::Value;
 use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 use std::net::TcpStream;
@@ -44,6 +45,17 @@ pub struct RootActorMsg {
     traits: ActorTraits,
 }
 
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+pub struct ProtocolDescriptionReply {
+    from: String,
+    types: Types,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+pub struct Types {
+    performance: ActorDescription,
+}
+
 pub struct RootActor {
     pub tabs: Vec<String>,
 }
@@ -81,6 +93,17 @@ impl Actor for RootActor {
                 ActorMessageStatus::Processed
             }
 
+            "protocolDescription" => {
+                let msg = ProtocolDescriptionReply {
+                    from: self.name(),
+                    types: Types {
+                        performance: PerformanceActor::description(),
+                    },
+                };
+                stream.write_json_packet(&msg);
+                ActorMessageStatus::Processed
+            }
+
             _ => ActorMessageStatus::Ignored
         })
     }
diff --git a/components/devtools/protocol.rs b/components/devtools/protocol.rs
index cb75572f3b8..3da44cc5323 100644
--- a/components/devtools/protocol.rs
+++ b/components/devtools/protocol.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,20 @@ use std::error::Error;
 use std::io::{Read, Write};
 use std::net::TcpStream;
 
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+pub struct ActorDescription {
+    pub category: &'static str,
+    pub typeName: &'static str,
+    pub methods: Vec<Method>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+pub struct Method {
+    pub name: &'static str,
+    pub request: Value,
+    pub response: Value,
+}
+
 pub trait JsonPacketStream {
     fn write_json_packet<T: Serialize>(&mut self, obj: &T);
     fn read_json_packet(&mut self) -> Result<Option<Value>, String>;