diff --git a/include/util.h b/include/util.h
index ad671fddbd14..01ba1a249f96 100644
--- a/include/util.h
+++ b/include/util.h
@@ -69,9 +69,12 @@ struct utmp;
 struct utmpx;
 struct winsize;
 struct sockaddr;
+struct modstat;
+typedef struct modstat modstat_t;
 
 char	       *flags_to_string(unsigned long, const char *);
 pid_t		forkpty(int *, char *, struct termios *, struct winsize *);
+int		get_module_info(const char *, modstat_t *);
 const char     *getbootfile(void);
 int		getbyteorder(void);
 off_t		getlabeloffset(void);
diff --git a/lib/libutil/Makefile b/lib/libutil/Makefile
index 1df77c226a44..eb007f25936a 100644
--- a/lib/libutil/Makefile
+++ b/lib/libutil/Makefile
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ LIB=	util
 CPPFLAGS+=-DLIBC_SCCS -I${.CURDIR}
 LINTFLAGS+=-w
 SRCS+=	efun.c \
+	get_module_info.c \
 	getbootfile.c getbyteorder.c getlabelsector.c getmaxpartitions.c \
 	getfsspecname.c getmntopts.c getrawpartition.c getdiskrawname.c \
 	disklabel_dkcksum.c disklabel_scan.c \
diff --git a/lib/libutil/get_module_info.c b/lib/libutil/get_module_info.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..87c7113d899e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/libutil/get_module_info.c
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+/*	$NetBSD$	*/
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2008 The NetBSD Foundation, Inc.
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE NETBSD FOUNDATION, INC. AND
+ * CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
+ * INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+ * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.
+ * IN NO EVENT SHALL THE FOUNDATION OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+ * DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+ * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE
+ * GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+ * INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER
+ * IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR
+ * OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN
+ * IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#include <sys/cdefs.h>
+__RCSID("$NetBSD$");
+
+#include <sys/module.h>
+#include <sys/sysctl.h>
+
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+static int
+check_permission(void)
+{
+
+	if (modctl(MODCTL_EXISTS, 0) == 0)
+		return 0;
+
+	/* Allow module loading administratively forbidden */
+	if (errno == EPERM)
+		return 0;
+
+	return errno;
+}
+
+int
+get_module_info(const char *name, modstat_t *msdest)
+{
+	bool found;
+	size_t len;
+	int count;
+	struct iovec iov;
+	modstat_t *ms;
+	int saved_errno;
+	int rv;
+
+	saved_errno = errno;
+	errno = 0;
+
+	rv = check_permission();
+	if (rv)
+		goto fini;
+
+	for (len = 8192; ;) {
+		iov.iov_base = malloc(len);
+		if (iov.iov_base == NULL) {
+			rv = errno;
+			goto fini;
+		}
+		iov.iov_len = len;
+
+		if (modctl(MODCTL_STAT, &iov) != 0) {
+			rv = errno;
+			free(iov.iov_base);
+			goto fini;
+		}
+		if (len >= iov.iov_len)
+			break;
+		free(iov.iov_base);
+		len = iov.iov_len;
+	}
+
+	found = false;
+	count = *(int *)iov.iov_base;
+	ms = (modstat_t *)((char *)iov.iov_base + sizeof(int));
+	while (count > 0) {
+		if (strcmp(ms->ms_name, name) == 0) {
+			if (msdest != NULL)
+				*msdest = *ms;
+			found = true;
+			break;
+		}
+		ms++;
+		count--;
+	}
+
+	free(iov.iov_base);
+
+	if (found)
+		rv = 0;
+	else
+		rv = ENOENT;
+
+fini:
+	errno = saved_errno;
+
+	return rv;
+}