diff --git a/src/app-utils/gnc-helpers.c b/src/app-utils/gnc-helpers.c
index 0fafd984b0..aa8f8beb0b 100644
--- a/src/app-utils/gnc-helpers.c
+++ b/src/app-utils/gnc-helpers.c
@@ -117,3 +117,17 @@ gnc_get_account_separator_string (void)
   return sep;
 }
 
+SCM
+gnc_parse_amount_helper (const char * string, gboolean monetary)
+{
+  gnc_numeric result;
+  gboolean ok;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (string, SCM_BOOL_F);
+
+  ok = xaccParseAmount (string, monetary, &result, NULL);
+  if (!ok)
+    return SCM_BOOL_F;
+
+  return gnc_numeric_to_scm (result);
+}
diff --git a/src/app-utils/gnc-helpers.h b/src/app-utils/gnc-helpers.h
index 4dfee75088..37f608601c 100644
--- a/src/app-utils/gnc-helpers.h
+++ b/src/app-utils/gnc-helpers.h
@@ -34,4 +34,6 @@ int  gnc_printinfo_p(SCM info_scm);
 
 const char * gnc_get_account_separator_string (void);
 
+SCM gnc_parse_amount_helper (const char * string, gboolean monetary);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/app-utils/gw-app-utils-spec.scm b/src/app-utils/gw-app-utils-spec.scm
index 5910d09107..bdee907c7e 100644
--- a/src/app-utils/gw-app-utils-spec.scm
+++ b/src/app-utils/gw-app-utils-spec.scm
@@ -126,6 +126,15 @@
    '()
    "Shutdown the expression parser and free any associated memory.")
 
+  (gw:wrap-function
+   mod
+   'gnc:parse-amount
+   '<gw:scm>
+   "gnc_parse_amount_helper"
+   '(((<gw:m-chars-caller-owned> gw:const) string)
+     (<gw:bool> monetary))
+   "Parse the expression and return either a gnc numeric or #f.")
+
   (gw:wrap-function
    mod
    'gnc:setup-gettext