diff --git a/include/qom/object.h b/include/qom/object.h
index 95d6e064d9..bcf9910b42 100644
--- a/include/qom/object.h
+++ b/include/qom/object.h
@@ -1510,6 +1510,16 @@ const char *object_property_get_type(Object *obj, const char *name,
  */
 Object *object_get_root(void);
 
+/**
+ * object_get_container:
+ * @name: the name of container to lookup
+ *
+ * Lookup a root level container.
+ *
+ * Returns: the container with @name.
+ */
+Object *object_get_container(const char *name);
+
 
 /**
  * object_get_objects_root:
diff --git a/qom/object.c b/qom/object.c
index b4c52d055d..81c06906d3 100644
--- a/qom/object.c
+++ b/qom/object.c
@@ -1751,6 +1751,16 @@ static Object *object_root_initialize(void)
     return root;
 }
 
+Object *object_get_container(const char *name)
+{
+    Object *container;
+
+    container = object_resolve_path_component(object_get_root(), name);
+    assert(object_dynamic_cast(container, TYPE_CONTAINER));
+
+    return container;
+}
+
 Object *object_get_root(void)
 {
     static Object *root;