diff --git a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-gnome-utils.c b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-gnome-utils.c
index 044aa559af..cc91921324 100644
--- a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-gnome-utils.c
+++ b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-gnome-utils.c
@@ -42,10 +42,6 @@
 static QofLogModule log_module = GNC_MOD_GUI;
 static GnomeProgram *gnucash_program = NULL;
 
-static const struct poptOption nullPoptTable[] = {
-  { NULL, 0, 0, NULL, 0 }
-};
-
 char *
 gnc_gnome_locate_pixmap (const char *name)
 {
@@ -64,6 +60,19 @@ gnc_gnome_locate_pixmap (const char *name)
   return fullname;
 }
 
+char *
+gnc_gnome_locate_file (GnomeFileDomain domain, const char *name)
+{
+  char *fullname;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail(name, NULL);
+  fullname = gnome_program_locate_file(gnucash_program,
+                                       domain, name, TRUE, NULL);
+  if (!fullname)
+      PERR ("Could not locate file %s", name);
+  return fullname;
+}
+
 char *
 gnc_gnome_locate_data_file (const char *name)
 {
@@ -121,7 +130,7 @@ gnc_gnome_init (int argc, char **argv, const char * version)
   gnc_gtk_add_rc_file();
   gnucash_program = gnome_program_init(
       "gnucash", version, LIBGNOMEUI_MODULE,
-      argc, argv, GNOME_PARAM_POPT_TABLE, nullPoptTable,
+      argc, argv,
       GNOME_PROGRAM_STANDARD_PROPERTIES, GNOME_PARAM_NONE);
 
   /* initialization required for gtkhtml */
diff --git a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-gnome-utils.h b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-gnome-utils.h
index dd40f029c0..2c9c76b68c 100644
--- a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-gnome-utils.h
+++ b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-gnome-utils.h
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@
 #ifndef GNC_GNOME_UTILS_H
 #define GNC_GNOME_UTILS_H
 
+#include <libgnome/libgnome.h>
+
 /** Initialize the Gnome libraries. */
 void gnc_gnome_init (int argc, char **argv, const char * version);
 
@@ -83,6 +85,20 @@ char *gnc_gnome_locate_data_file (const char *name);
  */
 char *gnc_gnome_locate_ui_file (const char *name);
 
+/** Given a file name, find the file in the directories associated
+ *  with the given file domain.  This routine will display an error
+ *  message if it can't find the file.
+ *
+ *  @param doamin The GnomeFileDomain, e.g. GNOME_FILE_DOMAIN_APP_HELP
+ *
+ *  @param name The name of the file to be found.
+ *
+ *  @return the full path name of the file, or NULL of the file can't
+ *  be found.
+ *
+ *  @note It is the caller's responsibility to free the returned string.
+ */
+char *gnc_gnome_locate_file (GnomeFileDomain domain, const char *name);
 
 /** Launch the default gnome help browser and open to a given link
  *  within a given file.  This routine will display an error message
diff --git a/src/gnome-utils/gw-gnome-utils-spec.scm b/src/gnome-utils/gw-gnome-utils-spec.scm
index 7af2707262..5bb9102209 100644
--- a/src/gnome-utils/gw-gnome-utils-spec.scm
+++ b/src/gnome-utils/gw-gnome-utils-spec.scm
@@ -493,4 +493,12 @@ if they say 'Yes'. The return is false if the user says 'Cancel'.")
    '(((<gw:mchars> caller-owned const) message)
      (<gw:double> percentage))
    "Set the progressbar window from the given GncWindow.")
+
+  (gw:wrap-function
+   ws
+   'gnc:gnome-locate-data-file
+   '(<gw:mchars> caller-owned)
+   "gnc_gnome_locate_data_file"
+   '(((<gw:mchars> caller-owned const) name))
+   "Find the file in the application data directory.")
 )