diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd-device-private.h b/libfwupd/fwupd-device-private.h
index 19aa5049e..f19aba7c4 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd-device-private.h
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd-device-private.h
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
 FwupdDevice	*fwupd_device_from_variant		(GVariant	*data);
 GVariant	*fwupd_device_to_variant		(FwupdDevice	*device);
+void		 fwupd_device_incorporate		(FwupdDevice	*self,
+							 FwupdDevice	*donor);
 
 G_END_DECLS
 
diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c b/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c
index 5f28a2a17..0fbc41c04 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c
@@ -858,6 +858,73 @@ fwupd_device_set_modified (FwupdDevice *device, guint64 modified)
 	priv->modified = modified;
 }
 
+/**
+ * fwupd_device_incorporate:
+ * @self: A #FwupdDevice
+ * @donor: Another #FwupdDevice
+ *
+ * Copy all properties from the donor object if they have not already been set.
+ *
+ * Since: 1.1.0
+ **/
+void
+fwupd_device_incorporate (FwupdDevice *self, FwupdDevice *donor)
+{
+	FwupdDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (self);
+	FwupdDevicePrivate *priv_donor = GET_PRIVATE (donor);
+
+	if (priv->flags == 0)
+		fwupd_device_add_flag (self, priv_donor->flags);
+	if (priv->created == 0)
+		fwupd_device_set_created (self, priv_donor->created);
+	if (priv->modified == 0)
+		fwupd_device_set_modified (self, priv_donor->modified);
+	if (priv->flashes_left == 0)
+		fwupd_device_set_flashes_left (self, priv_donor->flashes_left);
+	if (priv->update_state == 0)
+		fwupd_device_set_update_state (self, priv_donor->update_state);
+	if (priv->description == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_description (self, priv_donor->description);
+	if (priv->id == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_id (self, priv_donor->id);
+	if (priv->parent_id == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_parent_id (self, priv_donor->parent_id);
+	if (priv->name == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_name (self, priv_donor->name);
+	if (priv->summary == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_summary (self, priv_donor->summary);
+	if (priv->vendor == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_vendor (self, priv_donor->vendor);
+	if (priv->vendor_id == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_vendor_id (self, priv_donor->vendor_id);
+	if (priv->plugin == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_plugin (self, priv_donor->plugin);
+	if (priv->update_error == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_update_error (self, priv_donor->update_error);
+	if (priv->version == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_version (self, priv_donor->version);
+	if (priv->version_lowest == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_version_lowest (self, priv_donor->version_lowest);
+	if (priv->version_bootloader == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_version_bootloader (self, priv_donor->version_bootloader);
+	for (guint i = 0; i < priv_donor->guids->len; i++) {
+		const gchar *tmp = g_ptr_array_index (priv_donor->guids, i);
+		fwupd_device_add_guid (self, tmp);
+	}
+	for (guint i = 0; i < priv_donor->icons->len; i++) {
+		const gchar *tmp = g_ptr_array_index (priv_donor->icons, i);
+		fwupd_device_add_icon (self, tmp);
+	}
+	for (guint i = 0; i < priv_donor->checksums->len; i++) {
+		const gchar *tmp = g_ptr_array_index (priv_donor->checksums, i);
+		fwupd_device_add_checksum (self, tmp);
+	}
+	for (guint i = 0; i < priv_donor->releases->len; i++) {
+		FwupdRelease *tmp = g_ptr_array_index (priv_donor->releases, i);
+		fwupd_device_add_release (self, tmp);
+	}
+}
+
 /**
  * fwupd_device_to_variant:
  * @device: A #FwupdDevice
diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd.map b/libfwupd/fwupd.map
index c8d22ce29..60cb94e58 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd.map
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd.map
@@ -252,3 +252,9 @@ LIBFWUPD_1.0.8 {
     fwupd_device_set_parent_id;
   local: *;
 } LIBFWUPD_1.0.7;
+
+LIBFWUPD_1.1.0 {
+  global:
+    fwupd_device_incorporate;
+  local: *;
+} LIBFWUPD_1.0.8;