diff --git a/src/basic/runtime-scope.h b/src/basic/runtime-scope.h
index 54c797e742..94c2d2ea6a 100644
--- a/src/basic/runtime-scope.h
+++ b/src/basic/runtime-scope.h
@@ -15,3 +15,20 @@ const char* runtime_scope_to_string(RuntimeScope scope) _const_;
 RuntimeScope runtime_scope_from_string(const char *s) _const_;
 
 const char* runtime_scope_cmdline_option_to_string(RuntimeScope scope) _const_;
+
+static inline mode_t runtime_scope_to_socket_mode(RuntimeScope scope) {
+        /* Returns the right socket mode to use for binding AF_UNIX sockets intended for the specified
+         * scope. If system mode is selected the whole system can connect to it, if user mode is selected
+         * only the user can connect to it. */
+
+        switch (scope) {
+        case RUNTIME_SCOPE_SYSTEM:
+                return 0666;
+
+        case RUNTIME_SCOPE_USER:
+                return 0600;
+
+        default:
+                return MODE_INVALID;
+        }
+}