diff --git a/include/path.h b/include/path.h
index a9bab6dbe..2a4f80ecd 100644
--- a/include/path.h
+++ b/include/path.h
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ int ul_path_set_enoent_redirect(struct path_cxt *pc, int (*func)(struct path_cxt
 int ul_path_get_dirfd(struct path_cxt *pc);
 void ul_path_close_dirfd(struct path_cxt *pc);
 int ul_path_isopen_dirfd(struct path_cxt *pc);
+int ul_path_is_accessible(struct path_cxt *pc);
 
 char *ul_path_get_abspath(struct path_cxt *pc, char *buf, size_t bufsz, const char *path, ...)
 				__attribute__ ((__format__ (__printf__, 4, 5)));
diff --git a/lib/path.c b/lib/path.c
index 64bf7c6f0..75fa85305 100644
--- a/lib/path.c
+++ b/lib/path.c
@@ -195,6 +195,20 @@ static const char *get_absdir(struct path_cxt *pc)
 	return pc->path_buffer;
 }
 
+int ul_path_is_accessible(struct path_cxt *pc)
+{
+	const char *path;
+	assert(pc);
+
+	if (pc->dir_fd >= 0)
+		return 1;
+
+	path = get_absdir(pc);
+	if (!path)
+		return 0;
+	return access(path, F_OK) == 0;
+}
+
 int ul_path_get_dirfd(struct path_cxt *pc)
 {
 	assert(pc);