diff --git a/lib/utils/mu-utils.cc b/lib/utils/mu-utils.cc
index deb966f3..f08e6ea0 100644
--- a/lib/utils/mu-utils.cc
+++ b/lib/utils/mu-utils.cc
@@ -711,3 +711,11 @@ Mu::fputs_encoded (const std::string& str, FILE *stream)
 
 	return (rv == EOF) ? false: true;
 }
+
+void
+Mu::set_thread_name(const std::string& name)
+{
+#ifdef HAVE_PTHREAD_SETNAME_NP
+	pthread_setname_np(pthread_self(), name.c_str());
+#endif /*HAVE_PTHREAD_SETNAME_NP*/
+}
diff --git a/lib/utils/mu-utils.hh b/lib/utils/mu-utils.hh
index c84d4b3c..ecdc2f24 100644
--- a/lib/utils/mu-utils.hh
+++ b/lib/utils/mu-utils.hh
@@ -427,6 +427,16 @@ std::string summarize(const std::string& str, size_t max_lines);
  */
 std::string quote(const std::string& str);
 
+/**
+ * Set the name of the current thread
+ *
+ * This depends on pthread_setname_np() being available;
+ * otherwise, does nothing.
+ *
+ * @param name thread name
+ */
+void set_thread_name(const std::string& name);
+
 
 /**
  * Convert any ostreamable<< value to a string