diff --git a/lib/c/criu.c b/lib/c/criu.c
index c16fe5dcd..485c8b178 100644
--- a/lib/c/criu.c
+++ b/lib/c/criu.c
@@ -2041,3 +2041,22 @@ void criu_set_empty_ns(int namespaces)
 {
 	criu_local_set_empty_ns(global_opts, namespaces);
 }
+
+int criu_local_set_config_file(criu_opts *opts, const char *path)
+{
+	char *new;
+
+	new = strdup(path);
+	if (!new)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	free(opts->rpc->config_file);
+	opts->rpc->config_file = new;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int criu_set_config_file(const char *path)
+{
+	return criu_local_set_config_file(global_opts, path);
+}
diff --git a/lib/c/criu.h b/lib/c/criu.h
index c1c607869..44446f664 100644
--- a/lib/c/criu.h
+++ b/lib/c/criu.h
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ void criu_set_pidfd_store_sk(int sk);
 int criu_set_network_lock(enum criu_network_lock_method method);
 int criu_join_ns_add(const char *ns, const char *ns_file, const char *extra_opt);
 void criu_set_mntns_compat_mode(bool val);
+int criu_set_config_file(const char *path);
 
 /*
  * The criu_notify_arg_t na argument is an opaque
@@ -281,6 +282,7 @@ void criu_local_set_pidfd_store_sk(criu_opts *opts, int sk);
 int criu_local_set_network_lock(criu_opts *opts, enum criu_network_lock_method method);
 int criu_local_join_ns_add(criu_opts *opts, const char *ns, const char *ns_file, const char *extra_opt);
 void criu_local_set_mntns_compat_mode(criu_opts *opts, bool val);
+int criu_local_set_config_file(criu_opts *opts, const char *path);
 
 void criu_local_set_notify_cb(criu_opts *opts, int (*cb)(char *action, criu_notify_arg_t na));