diff --git a/include/criu-plugin.h b/include/criu-plugin.h
index 44abb2a4e..f41e52cc6 100644
--- a/include/criu-plugin.h
+++ b/include/criu-plugin.h
@@ -23,4 +23,7 @@
 typedef int (cr_plugin_init_t)(void);
 typedef void (cr_plugin_fini_t)(void);
 
+/* Public API */
+extern int criu_get_image_dir(void);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/util.c b/util.c
index c591331ae..3f373026e 100644
--- a/util.c
+++ b/util.c
@@ -319,6 +319,11 @@ int get_service_fd(enum sfd_type type)
 	return __get_service_fd(type, service_fd_id);
 }
 
+int criu_get_image_dir(void)
+{
+	return get_service_fd(IMG_FD_OFF);
+}
+
 int close_service_fd(enum sfd_type type)
 {
 	int fd;