diff --git a/src/core/main-utils.c b/src/core/main-utils.c
index 7fcffcbc08..14685fc3b4 100644
--- a/src/core/main-utils.c
+++ b/src/core/main-utils.c
@@ -218,6 +218,42 @@ nm_main_utils_ensure_root()
     }
 }
 
+uid_t nm_uid;
+/**
+ * nm_main_utils_get_nm_uid:
+ *
+ * Checks what EUID NetworkManager is running as.
+ * Saves the EUID so it can be reused without making many syscalls.
+ */
+uid_t
+nm_main_utils_get_nm_uid(void)
+{
+    static uint8_t nm_uid_flag = 0;
+    if (!nm_uid_flag) {
+        nm_uid      = geteuid();
+        nm_uid_flag = 1;
+    }
+    return nm_uid;
+}
+
+gid_t nm_gid;
+/**
+ * nm_main_utils_get_nm_gid:
+ *
+ * Checks what EGID NetworkManager is running as.
+ * Saves the EGID so it can be reused without making many syscalls.
+ */
+gid_t
+nm_main_utils_get_nm_gid(void)
+{
+    static uint8_t nm_gid_flag = 0;
+    if (!nm_gid_flag) {
+        nm_gid      = getegid();
+        nm_gid_flag = 1;
+    }
+    return nm_gid;
+}
+
 gboolean
 nm_main_utils_early_setup(const char   *progname,
                           int          *argc,
diff --git a/src/core/main-utils.h b/src/core/main-utils.h
index e3a3b490a9..d947dcaebd 100644
--- a/src/core/main-utils.h
+++ b/src/core/main-utils.h
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
 
 void nm_main_utils_ensure_root(void);
 
+uid_t nm_main_utils_get_nm_uid(void);
+
+gid_t nm_main_utils_get_nm_gid(void);
+
 void nm_main_utils_setup_signals(GMainLoop *main_loop);
 
 void nm_main_utils_ensure_statedir(void);