diff --git a/src/libvirt_private.syms b/src/libvirt_private.syms
index 528fcdc088..7e5b1d7e92 100644
--- a/src/libvirt_private.syms
+++ b/src/libvirt_private.syms
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ virCommandAddEnvPassCommon;
 virCommandAddEnvString;
 virCommandClearCaps;
 virCommandDaemonize;
+virCommandExec;
 virCommandFree;
 virCommandNew;
 virCommandNewArgList;
diff --git a/src/util/command.c b/src/util/command.c
index ff4869dceb..78586e8157 100644
--- a/src/util/command.c
+++ b/src/util/command.c
@@ -980,6 +980,28 @@ cleanup:
     return ret;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Exec the command, replacing the current process. Meant to be called
+ * after already forking / cloning, so does not attempt to daemonize or
+ * preserve any FDs.
+ *
+ * Returns -1 on any error executing the command.
+ * Will not return on success.
+ */
+int virCommandExec(virCommandPtr cmd)
+{
+    if (!cmd ||cmd->has_error == ENOMEM) {
+        virReportOOMError();
+        return -1;
+    }
+    if (cmd->has_error) {
+        virCommandError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR, "%s",
+                        _("invalid use of command API"));
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    return execve(cmd->args[0], cmd->args, cmd->env);
+}
 
 /*
  * Run the command and wait for completion.
diff --git a/src/util/command.h b/src/util/command.h
index 69e9169ea4..aa5136b2dd 100644
--- a/src/util/command.h
+++ b/src/util/command.h
@@ -255,6 +255,16 @@ char *virCommandToString(virCommandPtr cmd) ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
  */
 char *virCommandTranslateStatus(int exitstatus) ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
 
+/*
+ * Exec the command, replacing the current process. Meant to be called
+ * after already forking / cloning, so does not attempt to daemonize or
+ * preserve any FDs.
+ *
+ * Returns -1 on any error executing the command.
+ * Will not return on success.
+ */
+int virCommandExec(virCommandPtr cmd) ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
+
 /*
  * Run the command and wait for completion.
  * Returns -1 on any error executing the