diff --git a/include/clapwrapper/wrapper_host.h b/include/clapwrapper/wrapper_host.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..903da62c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/clapwrapper/wrapper_host.h
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#ifndef CLAPWRAPPER_WRAPPER_HOST_H
+#define CLAPWRAPPER_WRAPPER_HOST_H
+
+#include "clap/private/macros.h"
+#include "clap/host.h"
+
+// CLAP_ABI was introduced in CLAP 1.1.2, for older versions we make it transparent
+#ifndef CLAP_ABI
+#define CLAP_ABI
+#endif
+
+/*
+  clap_wrapper_host_information
+
+  a host extension every clap-wrapper host provides, so a plugin can tell it is wrapped
+  and in what. a null result from get_extension means not wrapped.
+
+    auto *cwh = (const clap_wrapper_host_information_t *)host->get_extension(
+        host, CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_INFORMATION);
+    if (cwh && strcmp(cwh->get_wrapper_flavor(host), CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_AUV2) == 0)
+      ...
+*/
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C"
+{
+#endif
+
+  static const CLAP_CONSTEXPR char CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_INFORMATION[] = "clap-wrapper.host-information/0";
+
+  // compare with strcmp; the pointers are not guaranteed to be these arrays
+  static const CLAP_CONSTEXPR char CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_AUV2[] = "auv2";
+  static const CLAP_CONSTEXPR char CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_AUV3[] = "auv3";
+  static const CLAP_CONSTEXPR char CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_AAX[] = "aax";
+  static const CLAP_CONSTEXPR char CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_VST3[] = "vst3";
+  static const CLAP_CONSTEXPR char CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_STANDALONE[] = "standalone";
+
+  typedef struct clap_wrapper_host_information
+  {
+    // one of CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_*, valid for the life of the host
+    // [thread-safe]
+    const char *(CLAP_ABI *get_wrapper_flavor)(const clap_host_t *host);
+
+    // the real host's name without host->name's wrapper suffix, e.g. "REAPER"
+    // null when unknowable
+    // [thread-safe]
+    const char *(CLAP_ABI *get_underlying_host_name)(const clap_host_t *host);
+  } clap_wrapper_host_information_t;
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/clap_proxy.cpp b/src/clap_proxy.cpp
index b836e522..1d4e84b5 100644
--- a/src/clap_proxy.cpp
+++ b/src/clap_proxy.cpp
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ static bool track_info_get(const clap_host_t *host, clap_track_info_t *info)
 
 const clap_host_track_info trackinfo = {track_info_get};
 
+const clap_wrapper_host_information_t wrapper_host_information = {
+    [](const clap_host_t *host) -> const char * { return self(host)->wrapper_flavor(); },
+    [](const clap_host_t *host) -> const char * { return self(host)->underlying_host_name(); }};
+
 const clap_host_preset_load_t preset_load = {
     /* on_error */
     [](const clap_host_t *host, uint32_t location_kind, const char *location, const char *load_key,
@@ -589,6 +593,7 @@ const void *Plugin::clapExtension(const clap_host * /*host*/, const char *extens
   if (!strcmp(extension, CLAP_EXT_CONTEXT_MENU)) return &HostExt::context_menu;
   if (!strcmp(extension, CLAP_EXT_PRESET_LOAD) || !strcmp(extension, CLAP_EXT_PRESET_LOAD_COMPAT))
     return &HostExt::preset_load;
+  if (!strcmp(extension, CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_INFORMATION)) return &HostExt::wrapper_host_information;
 
 #if LIN
   if (!strcmp(extension, CLAP_EXT_POSIX_FD_SUPPORT)) return &HostExt::hostposixfd;
diff --git a/src/clap_proxy.h b/src/clap_proxy.h
index de63839c..88f58a3a 100644
--- a/src/clap_proxy.h
+++ b/src/clap_proxy.h
@@ -74,6 +74,11 @@ class IHost
   virtual bool track_info_get(clap_track_info_t *info) = 0;
   virtual const char *host_get_name() = 0;
 
+  // one of CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_*, reported through CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_INFORMATION
+  virtual const char *wrapper_flavor() const = 0;
+  // set before the plugin is created and not changed after; nullptr when unknowable
+  virtual const char *underlying_host_name() const = 0;
+
   // clap.preset-load, host side. Defaulted rather than pure: only the formats
   // that can show a preset list (VST3 program lists, AU factory presets) have
   // anything to do here, and making these pure would force every other
@@ -283,6 +288,15 @@ class Plugin
     return _parentHost->track_info_get(info);
   }
 
+  const char *wrapper_flavor() const
+  {
+    return _parentHost->wrapper_flavor();
+  }
+  const char *underlying_host_name() const
+  {
+    return _parentHost->underlying_host_name();
+  }
+
   // clap_timer support
   bool register_timer(uint32_t period_ms, clap_id *timer_id);
   bool unregister_timer(clap_id timer_id);
diff --git a/src/detail/aax/audioconfig.cpp b/src/detail/aax/audioconfig.cpp
index 8f21905c..fc2b4606 100644
--- a/src/detail/aax/audioconfig.cpp
+++ b/src/detail/aax/audioconfig.cpp
@@ -196,6 +196,9 @@ plugin_bus_info_t getAvailableBusConfigs(Clap::Library *factory, uint32_t index)
   static const clap_host_audio_ports_t micro_audio_ports = {
       [](const clap_host_t *host, uint32_t flag) -> bool { return false; },
       [](const clap_host_t *host, uint32_t flags) -> void {}};
+  static const clap_wrapper_host_information_t micro_wrapper_info = {
+      [](const clap_host_t *host) -> const char * { return CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_AAX; },
+      [](const clap_host_t *host) -> const char * { return nullptr; }};
   clap_host_t microhost = {
       CLAP_VERSION,
       nullptr,
@@ -209,6 +212,7 @@ plugin_bus_info_t getAvailableBusConfigs(Clap::Library *factory, uint32_t index)
         LOGDETAIL("plugin requests microhost extension {}", extension_id);
         if (!strcmp(CLAP_EXT_PARAMS, extension_id)) return &micro_params;
         if (!strcmp(CLAP_EXT_AUDIO_PORTS, extension_id)) return &micro_audio_ports;
+        if (!strcmp(CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_INFORMATION, extension_id)) return &micro_wrapper_info;
         return nullptr;
       },
       [](const struct clap_host *host) -> void {},  // request_restart
diff --git a/src/detail/aax/wrapper.cpp b/src/detail/aax/wrapper.cpp
index caf7e05d..d22fefa7 100644
--- a/src/detail/aax/wrapper.cpp
+++ b/src/detail/aax/wrapper.cpp
@@ -550,6 +550,9 @@ AAX_Result ClapAsAAX::EffectInit()
 
   LOGINFO(fmt::format("AAX Effect Init for '{}'", m.StdString().c_str()));
 
+  AAX_CString hostname;
+  if (AAX_SUCCESS == _aax_ctrl->GetHostName(&hostname)) _underlying_hostname = hostname.StdString();
+
   _library = CLAPAAX::guarantee_clap();
   _plugin = Clap::Plugin::createInstance(_library->_pluginFactory, m.StdString(), this);
 
@@ -1163,13 +1166,7 @@ bool ClapAsAAX::track_info_get(clap_track_info_t *info)
 
 const char *ClapAsAAX::host_get_name()
 {
-  AAX_IController *ctrl = Controller();
-  AAX_CString hostname;
-  if (AAX_SUCCESS == ctrl->GetHostName(&hostname))
-  {
-    _wrapper_hostname = hostname.StdString();
-    _wrapper_hostname.append(" (CLAP-as-AAX)");
-  }
+  if (!_underlying_hostname.empty()) _wrapper_hostname = _underlying_hostname + " (CLAP-as-AAX)";
   return _wrapper_hostname.c_str();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/detail/aax/wrapper.h b/src/detail/aax/wrapper.h
index 51eb7f49..29994b74 100644
--- a/src/detail/aax/wrapper.h
+++ b/src/detail/aax/wrapper.h
@@ -246,6 +246,14 @@ class ClapAsAAX : public AAX_CEffectParameters,
 
   bool track_info_get(clap_track_info_t *info) override;
   const char *host_get_name() override;
+  const char *wrapper_flavor() const override
+  {
+    return CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_AAX;
+  }
+  const char *underlying_host_name() const override
+  {
+    return _underlying_hostname.empty() ? nullptr : _underlying_hostname.c_str();
+  }
 
   bool supportsContextMenu() const override;
   // context_menu
@@ -273,6 +281,7 @@ class ClapAsAAX : public AAX_CEffectParameters,
   os::State _os_attached;
 
   std::string _wrapper_hostname = "CLAP-As-AAX-Wrapper";
+  std::string _underlying_hostname;
 
   // _parameterMap maps the AAX CParamID to the wrapped parameter
   std::map<std::string, std::shared_ptr<AAXWrappedParameterInfo_t>> _parameterMap;
diff --git a/src/detail/auv2/auv2_base_classes.h b/src/detail/auv2/auv2_base_classes.h
index 34aafe44..e1ff5c29 100644
--- a/src/detail/auv2/auv2_base_classes.h
+++ b/src/detail/auv2/auv2_base_classes.h
@@ -698,6 +698,15 @@ class WrapAsAUV2 : public ausdk::AUBase,
     return false;
   }
 
+  const char *wrapper_flavor() const override
+  {
+    return CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_AUV2;
+  }
+  const char *underlying_host_name() const override
+  {
+    return _underlying_hostname.empty() ? nullptr : _underlying_hostname.c_str();
+  }
+
   const char *host_get_name() override
   {
     char text[65];
@@ -920,6 +929,7 @@ class WrapAsAUV2 : public ausdk::AUBase,
   // std::vector<clap_note_port_info_t> _midi_outports_info;
 
   std::string _hostname = "CLAP-as-AUv2";
+  std::string _underlying_hostname;
 
 #ifdef DUAL_SCHEDULING_ENABLED
   bool _midi_dualscheduling_mode = false;
diff --git a/src/detail/auv3/auv3_audiounit.mm b/src/detail/auv3/auv3_audiounit.mm
index 6f1dc567..d9bb62e5 100644
--- a/src/detail/auv3/auv3_audiounit.mm
+++ b/src/detail/auv3/auv3_audiounit.mm
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ - (void)_applyGUISizeWidth:(uint32_t)width height:(uint32_t)height;
   int _idx = 0;
   os::State _os_attached;
   std::string _hostname = "CLAP-as-AUv3";
+  std::string _underlying_hostname;
   std::atomic<bool> _initialized{false};
   std::atomic_bool _requestUICallback{false};
   // set by mark_dirty(), serviced by the idle timer
@@ -600,6 +601,15 @@ void fireTimers()
     }
   }
 
+  const char *wrapper_flavor() const override
+  {
+    return CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_AUV3;
+  }
+  const char *underlying_host_name() const override
+  {
+    return _underlying_hostname.empty() ? nullptr : _underlying_hostname.c_str();
+  }
+
   const char *host_get_name() override
   {
     NSBundle *mainBundle = [NSBundle mainBundle];
@@ -981,6 +991,7 @@ - (instancetype)initWithComponentDescription:(AudioComponentDescription)componen
 
     // Create the plugin instance
     AUV3LOG("init: creating plugin instance via factory");
+    _impl->_underlying_hostname = os::getHostAppName();
     _impl->_plugin =
         Clap::Plugin::createInstance(_library._pluginFactory, _impl->_desc->id, _impl.get());
     if (!_impl->_plugin)
diff --git a/src/detail/clap/fsutil.h b/src/detail/clap/fsutil.h
index aaeb78b7..61210460 100644
--- a/src/detail/clap/fsutil.h
+++ b/src/detail/clap/fsutil.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "clapwrapper/vst3.h"
 #include "clapwrapper/auv2.h"
 #include "clapwrapper/aax.h"
+#include "clapwrapper/wrapper_host.h"
 #include "../ara/ara.h"
 #include "detail/os/fs.h"
 
diff --git a/src/detail/os/macos.mm b/src/detail/os/macos.mm
index 05de6147..dc84e209 100644
--- a/src/detail/os/macos.mm
+++ b/src/detail/os/macos.mm
@@ -149,4 +149,15 @@ uint64_t getTickInMS()
   return getPluginPath().stem();
 }
 
+std::string getHostAppName()
+{
+  NSBundle *mainBundle = [NSBundle mainBundle];
+  // AUHostingService and our own appex are both XPC! bundles
+  if ([[mainBundle objectForInfoDictionaryKey:@"CFBundlePackageType"] isEqualToString:@"XPC!"])
+    return {};
+  NSString *name = [mainBundle objectForInfoDictionaryKey:@"CFBundleName"];
+  if (!name) name = [[NSProcessInfo processInfo] processName];
+  return name ? std::string([name UTF8String]) : std::string();
+}
+
 }  // namespace os
diff --git a/src/detail/os/osutil.h b/src/detail/os/osutil.h
index 49b4670d..f0d8e705 100644
--- a/src/detail/os/osutil.h
+++ b/src/detail/os/osutil.h
@@ -85,6 +85,11 @@ fs::path getPluginPath();
 std::string getParentFolderName();
 std::string getBinaryName();
 
+#if MAC
+// empty when loaded into an xpc service or appex, where the real host is unknowable
+std::string getHostAppName();
+#endif
+
 #ifdef WIN32
 void init();
 void terminate();
diff --git a/src/detail/standalone/standalone_host.h b/src/detail/standalone/standalone_host.h
index da2fef4e..61f14e95 100644
--- a/src/detail/standalone/standalone_host.h
+++ b/src/detail/standalone/standalone_host.h
@@ -230,6 +230,20 @@ struct StandaloneHost : Clap::IHost
   bool unregister_timer(clap_id timer_id) override;
 
   const char *host_get_name() override;
+  const char *wrapper_flavor() const override
+  {
+    return CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_STANDALONE;
+  }
+  const char *underlying_host_name() const override
+  {
+#if MAC
+    return "Wrapper Mac Standalone";
+#elif WIN
+    return "Wrapper Windows Standalone";
+#else
+    return "Wrapper Linux Standalone";
+#endif
+  }
 
   bool track_info_get(clap_track_info_t *info) override
   {
diff --git a/src/wrapasauv2.cpp b/src/wrapasauv2.cpp
index 63f3b8a2..ab4f3c6f 100644
--- a/src/wrapasauv2.cpp
+++ b/src/wrapasauv2.cpp
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ WrapAsAUV2::WrapAsAUV2(const std::string &clapname, const std::string &clapid, i
        */
 
       // pffffrzz();  // <- enable this to have a hook to attach a debugger
+      _underlying_hostname = os::getHostAppName();
       _plugin = Clap::Plugin::createInstance(_library._pluginFactory, _desc->id, this);
       if (_plugin)
       {
diff --git a/src/wrapasvst3.cpp b/src/wrapasvst3.cpp
index 0baf2881..d9b2ef01 100644
--- a/src/wrapasvst3.cpp
+++ b/src/wrapasvst3.cpp
@@ -152,6 +152,9 @@ tresult PLUGIN_API ClapAsVst3::initialize(FUnknown *context)
   {
     if (!_plugin)
     {
+      Steinberg::Vst::String128 res;
+      if (vst3HostApplication && kResultOk == vst3HostApplication->getName(res))
+        underlying_hostname = stringconv::convert(res);
       _plugin = Clap::Plugin::createInstance(*_library, _libraryIndex, this);
     }
     result = (_plugin && _plugin->initialize()) ? kResultOk : kResultFalse;
@@ -1759,15 +1762,7 @@ bool ClapAsVst3::unregister_timer(clap_id timer_id)
 
 const char *ClapAsVst3::host_get_name()
 {
-  if (vst3HostApplication)
-  {
-    Steinberg::Vst::String128 res;
-    if (kResultOk == vst3HostApplication->getName(res))
-    {
-      wrapper_hostname = stringconv::convert(res);
-      wrapper_hostname.append(" (CLAP-as-VST3)");
-    }
-  }
+  if (!underlying_hostname.empty()) wrapper_hostname = underlying_hostname + " (CLAP-as-VST3)";
   return wrapper_hostname.c_str();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/wrapasvst3.h b/src/wrapasvst3.h
index 5d809c73..cf59fc48 100644
--- a/src/wrapasvst3.h
+++ b/src/wrapasvst3.h
@@ -306,6 +306,7 @@ class ClapAsVst3 : public Steinberg::Vst::SingleComponentEffect,
   IPtr<Steinberg::Vst::IContextMenu> vst3ContextMenu = nullptr;
   IPtr<Steinberg::Vst::IHostApplication> vst3HostApplication = nullptr;
   std::string wrapper_hostname = "CLAP-As-VST3-Wrapper";
+  std::string underlying_hostname;
   std::vector<wrapper_context_menu_item> contextmenuitems;
   uint32_t vst3ContextMenuParamID = 0;
 
@@ -348,6 +349,14 @@ class ClapAsVst3 : public Steinberg::Vst::SingleComponentEffect,
   bool unregister_timer(clap_id timer_id) override;
 
   const char *host_get_name() override;
+  const char *wrapper_flavor() const override
+  {
+    return CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_VST3;
+  }
+  const char *underlying_host_name() const override
+  {
+    return underlying_hostname.empty() ? nullptr : underlying_hostname.c_str();
+  }
 
   bool supportsContextMenu() const override;
   // context_menu
diff --git a/tests/clap-first-example/distortion_clap.cpp b/tests/clap-first-example/distortion_clap.cpp
index 1b765922..ee1c96ca 100644
--- a/tests/clap-first-example/distortion_clap.cpp
+++ b/tests/clap-first-example/distortion_clap.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <math.h>
 #include <assert.h>
 #include "clapwrapper/vst3.h"
+#include "clapwrapper/wrapper_host.h"
 #include "distortion_clap_entry.h"
 
 static const char *features[] = {CLAP_PLUGIN_FEATURE_AUDIO_EFFECT, CLAP_PLUGIN_FEATURE_STEREO,
@@ -371,6 +372,32 @@ static bool clap1stDist_init(const struct clap_plugin *plugin)
   if (plug->hostLog && plug->host)
   {
     plug->hostLog->log(plug->host, CLAP_LOG_INFO, "Created clap1st Distortion compiled with C++");
+
+    // null means a real clap host rather than clap-wrapper
+    auto *cwh = (const clap_wrapper_host_information_t *)plug->host->get_extension(
+        plug->host, CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_INFORMATION);
+    const char *how = "Running as a CLAP";
+    if (cwh)
+    {
+      const char *flavor = cwh->get_wrapper_flavor(plug->host);
+      if (strcmp(flavor, CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_VST3) == 0)
+        how = "Wrapped as a VST3";
+      else if (strcmp(flavor, CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_AUV2) == 0)
+        how = "Wrapped as an AUv2";
+      else if (strcmp(flavor, CLAP_WRAPPER_HOST_FLAVOR_STANDALONE) == 0)
+        how = "Wrapped as a standalone";
+      else
+        how = "Wrapped in some other format";
+    }
+    plug->hostLog->log(plug->host, CLAP_LOG_INFO, how);
+
+    if (cwh)
+    {
+      const char *underlying = cwh->get_underlying_host_name(plug->host);
+      char msg[256];
+      snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "Underlying host is '%s'", underlying ? underlying : "unknown");
+      plug->hostLog->log(plug->host, CLAP_LOG_INFO, msg);
+    }
   }
 
   return true;