diff --git a/src/libnm-core-impl/nm-connection.c b/src/libnm-core-impl/nm-connection.c
index 1e4300e6cb..3ab2cafcb2 100644
--- a/src/libnm-core-impl/nm-connection.c
+++ b/src/libnm-core-impl/nm-connection.c
@@ -2520,6 +2520,14 @@ _nmtst_nm_setting_sort(NMSetting *a, NMSetting *b)
     return 0;
 }
 
+NMSetting **
+_nm_connection_get_settings_arr(NMConnection *connection)
+{
+    nm_assert(NM_IS_CONNECTION(connection));
+
+    return NM_CONNECTION_GET_PRIVATE(connection)->settings;
+}
+
 /**
  * nm_connection_get_settings:
  * @connection: the #NMConnection instance
diff --git a/src/libnm-core-intern/nm-core-internal.h b/src/libnm-core-intern/nm-core-internal.h
index d01e432c68..9f2eadf4ab 100644
--- a/src/libnm-core-intern/nm-core-internal.h
+++ b/src/libnm-core-intern/nm-core-internal.h
@@ -180,6 +180,8 @@ NM_TERNARY_TO_OPTION_BOOL(NMTernary v)
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
 
+NMSetting **_nm_connection_get_settings_arr(NMConnection *connection);
+
 typedef enum { /*< skip >*/
                NM_SETTING_PARSE_FLAGS_NONE        = 0,
                NM_SETTING_PARSE_FLAGS_STRICT      = 1LL << 0,