diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 0802352028..7ae113efd8 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+2007-10-21  Dan Williams  <dcbw@redhat.com>
+
+	* src/nm-activation-request.h
+	  src/nm-activation-request.c
+		- (nm_act_request_set_specific_object): new function; allow setting the
+			specific object if one isn't set yet
+
 2007-10-20  Dan Williams  <dcbw@redhat.com>
 
 	* src/supplicant-manager/nm-supplicant-config.h
diff --git a/src/nm-activation-request.c b/src/nm-activation-request.c
index 9a1010843a..1db0fdc705 100644
--- a/src/nm-activation-request.c
+++ b/src/nm-activation-request.c
@@ -280,6 +280,20 @@ nm_act_request_get_specific_object (NMActRequest *req)
 	return NM_ACT_REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE (req)->specific_object;
 }
 
+void
+nm_act_request_set_specific_object (NMActRequest *req,
+                                    const char *specific_object)
+{
+	NMActRequestPrivate *priv;
+
+	g_return_if_fail (NM_IS_ACT_REQUEST (req));
+
+	priv = NM_ACT_REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE (req);
+	g_return_if_fail (priv->specific_object == NULL);
+
+	priv->specific_object = g_strdup (specific_object);
+}
+
 gboolean
 nm_act_request_get_user_requested (NMActRequest *req)
 {
diff --git a/src/nm-activation-request.h b/src/nm-activation-request.h
index 8059729490..4133c1bc60 100644
--- a/src/nm-activation-request.h
+++ b/src/nm-activation-request.h
@@ -59,7 +59,11 @@ NMConnection *nm_act_request_get_connection     (NMActRequest *req);
 gboolean      nm_act_request_request_connection_secrets (NMActRequest *req,
                                                          const char *setting_name,
                                                          gboolean request_new);
-const char *  nm_act_request_get_specific_object(NMActRequest *req);
+const char *  nm_act_request_get_specific_object (NMActRequest *req);
+
+void          nm_act_request_set_specific_object (NMActRequest *req,
+                                                  const char *specific_object);
+
 gboolean      nm_act_request_get_user_requested (NMActRequest *req);
 
 #endif /* NM_ACTIVATION_REQUEST_H */