diff --git a/src/basic/stat-util.c b/src/basic/stat-util.c
index d5df4acc28..f50b64e484 100644
--- a/src/basic/stat-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/stat-util.c
@@ -142,6 +142,21 @@ int is_symlink(const char *path) {
         return verify_stat_at(AT_FDCWD, path, false, stat_verify_symlink, false);
 }
 
+int stat_verify_socket(const struct stat *st) {
+        assert(st);
+
+        if (S_ISLNK(st->st_mode))
+                return -ELOOP;
+
+        if (S_ISDIR(st->st_mode))
+                return -EISDIR;
+
+        if (!S_ISSOCK(st->st_mode))
+                return -ENOTSOCK;
+
+        return 0;
+}
+
 int stat_verify_linked(const struct stat *st) {
         assert(st);
 
diff --git a/src/basic/stat-util.h b/src/basic/stat-util.h
index 65af98e76a..e4138e960a 100644
--- a/src/basic/stat-util.h
+++ b/src/basic/stat-util.h
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ int stat_verify_symlink(const struct stat *st);
 int fd_verify_symlink(int fd);
 int is_symlink(const char *path);
 
+int stat_verify_socket(const struct stat *st);
+
 int stat_verify_linked(const struct stat *st);
 int fd_verify_linked(int fd);