List layers without loading image?

[ChameleonScales]

Using python-fu, is there a way to list the layer names of an xcf file without loading the whole file?

Right now I list them like this:

Code:

image = pdb.gimp_file_load(some_filepath,same_filepath)
for l in image.layers :
    print(l.name)
gimp.delete(image)

The problem is that I use it on many very heavy xcfs and the listing can take a few minutes, which I feel could be improved.

I can find the layer names in the gibberish of the xcf when I open it with a text editor (Atom) but don't see a recurring pattern around so not sure this can be exploited by a direct text search in the file.

Any chance of there being an efficient solution?