diff --git a/qemu-xen.h b/qemu-xen.h
index 5e30c61..29b8161 100644
--- a/qemu-xen.h
+++ b/qemu-xen.h
@@ -101,6 +101,9 @@ int xenstore_dom_write(int domid, const char *key, const char *value);
 void xenstore_dom_watch(int domid, const char *key, xenstore_callback ftp, void *opaque);
 void xenstore_dom_chmod(int domid, const char *key, const char *perms);
 
+char *xenstore_read(const char *path);
+int xenstore_write(const char *path, const char *val);
+
  /* `danger' means that this parameter, variable or function refers to
   * an area of xenstore which is writeable by the guest and thus must
   * not be trusted by qemu code.  For variables containing xenstore
diff --git a/xenstore.c b/xenstore.c
index 1ad6dc9..bb5f848 100644
--- a/xenstore.c
+++ b/xenstore.c
@@ -1562,3 +1562,20 @@ int xenstore_dom_write(int domid, const char *key, const char *value)
     free(buf);
     return rc;
 }
+
+char *xenstore_read(const char *path)
+{
+    char *value = NULL;
+    unsigned int len;
+
+    if (xsh == NULL)
+        return NULL;
+    return xs_read(xsh, XBT_NULL, path, &len);
+}
+
+int xenstore_write(const char *path, const char *val)
+{
+    if (xsh == NULL)
+        return 1;
+    return xs_write(xsh, XBT_NULL, path, val, strlen(val));
+}