diff --git a/src/core/misc.c b/src/core/misc.c
index 1cfa15b6..c75f54db 100644
--- a/src/core/misc.c
+++ b/src/core/misc.c
@@ -168,6 +168,23 @@ int strarray_find(char **array, const char *item)
 	return -1;
 }
 
+int strarray_find_prefix(char **array, const char *item)
+{
+	char **tmp;
+	int index;
+
+	g_return_val_if_fail(array != NULL, -1);
+	g_return_val_if_fail(item != NULL, -1);
+
+	index = 0;
+	for (tmp = array; *tmp != NULL; tmp++, index++) {
+		if (g_str_has_prefix(*tmp, item))
+			return index;
+	}
+
+	return -1;
+}
+
 GSList *gslist_find_string(GSList *list, const char *key)
 {
 	for (; list != NULL; list = list->next)
diff --git a/src/core/misc.h b/src/core/misc.h
index 00637da0..1c510c58 100644
--- a/src/core/misc.h
+++ b/src/core/misc.h
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ char *replace_chars(char *str, char from, char to);
 /* return index of `item' in `array' or -1 if not found */
 int strarray_find(char **array, const char *item);
 
+/* return index of element in `array' starting with `item' or -1 if not found */
+gboolean strarray_find_prefix(char **array, const char *item);
+
 /* string -> uoff_t */
 uoff_t str_to_uofft(const char *str);