diff --git a/src/engine/kvp-util.c b/src/engine/kvp-util.c
index daf3327ffe..790a909294 100644
--- a/src/engine/kvp-util.c
+++ b/src/engine/kvp-util.c
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 
 #include <glib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
-#include "gnc-engine-util.h"
 
 #include "kvp_frame.h"
 #include "kvp-util.h"
diff --git a/src/engine/qofinstance.c b/src/engine/qofinstance.c
index 21bf70869e..9e13cd01cf 100644
--- a/src/engine/qofinstance.c
+++ b/src/engine/qofinstance.c
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@
  * Copyright (C) 2003 Linas Vepstas <linas@linas.org>
  */
 
+#include "kvp-util-p.h"
 #include "qofbook.h"
+#include "qofbook-p.h"
 #include "qofid.h"
 #include "qofid-p.h"
 #include "qofinstance.h"
@@ -51,3 +53,22 @@ qof_instance_get_slots (QofInstance *inst)
   return inst->kvp_data;
 }
 
+void
+qof_instance_gemini (QofInstance *to, QofInstance *from)
+{
+  time_t now;
+  now = time(0);
+                                                                                
+  /* Make a note of where the copy came from */
+  gnc_kvp_bag_add (to->kvp_data, "gemini", now,
+                                  "inst_guid", &from->guid,
+                                  "book_guid", &from->book->guid,
+                                  NULL);
+  gnc_kvp_bag_add (from->kvp_data, "gemini", now,
+                                  "inst_guid", &to->guid,
+                                  "book_guid", &to->book->guid,
+                                  NULL);
+
+  to->dirty = TRUE;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/engine/qofinstance.h b/src/engine/qofinstance.h
index 02b2ff6480..3109e7730d 100644
--- a/src/engine/qofinstance.h
+++ b/src/engine/qofinstance.h
@@ -54,4 +54,10 @@ const GUID * qof_instance_get_guid (QofInstance *);
 /** return the pointer to the kvp_data */
 KvpFrame* qof_instance_get_slots (QofInstance *);
 
+/** pair things up. Currently, this routine only inserts a
+ * pair of guid-pointers pointing to each other.  it
+ * doesn't copy any data.
+ */
+void qof_instance_gemini (QofInstance *to, QofInstance *from);
+
 #endif /* QOF_INSTANCE_H */