diff --git a/include/sysemu/iothread.h b/include/sysemu/iothread.h
index 110329b2b4..55de1715c7 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/iothread.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/iothread.h
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ typedef struct {
    OBJECT_CHECK(IOThread, obj, TYPE_IOTHREAD)
 
 char *iothread_get_id(IOThread *iothread);
+IOThread *iothread_by_id(const char *id);
 AioContext *iothread_get_aio_context(IOThread *iothread);
 void iothread_stop_all(void);
 GMainContext *iothread_get_g_main_context(IOThread *iothread);
diff --git a/iothread.c b/iothread.c
index 27a4288578..e7b93e02a3 100644
--- a/iothread.c
+++ b/iothread.c
@@ -380,3 +380,10 @@ void iothread_destroy(IOThread *iothread)
 {
     object_unparent(OBJECT(iothread));
 }
+
+/* Lookup IOThread by its id.  Only finds user-created objects, not internal
+ * iothread_create() objects. */
+IOThread *iothread_by_id(const char *id)
+{
+    return IOTHREAD(object_resolve_path_type(id, TYPE_IOTHREAD, NULL));
+}