diff --git a/libfwupdplugin/fu-i2c-device.c b/libfwupdplugin/fu-i2c-device.c
index 14c03caef..be0f7f83d 100644
--- a/libfwupdplugin/fu-i2c-device.c
+++ b/libfwupdplugin/fu-i2c-device.c
@@ -169,10 +169,27 @@ guint
 fu_i2c_device_get_bus_number (FuI2cDevice *self)
 {
 	FuI2cDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (self);
-	g_return_val_if_fail (FU_I2C_DEVICE (self), G_MAXUINT);
+	g_return_val_if_fail (FU_IS_I2C_DEVICE (self), G_MAXUINT);
 	return priv->bus_number;
 }
 
+/**
+ * fu_i2c_device_set_bus_number:
+ * @self: a #FuI2cDevice
+ * @bus_number: integer, typically the output of g_udev_device_get_number()
+ *
+ * Sets the I²C bus number.
+ *
+ * Since: 1.6.2
+ **/
+void
+fu_i2c_device_set_bus_number (FuI2cDevice *self, guint bus_number)
+{
+	FuI2cDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (self);
+	g_return_if_fail (FU_IS_I2C_DEVICE (self));
+	priv->bus_number = bus_number;
+}
+
 /**
  * fu_i2c_device_write:
  * @self: a #FuI2cDevice
diff --git a/libfwupdplugin/fu-i2c-device.h b/libfwupdplugin/fu-i2c-device.h
index d7c4b6915..97a2b2bd4 100644
--- a/libfwupdplugin/fu-i2c-device.h
+++ b/libfwupdplugin/fu-i2c-device.h
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ struct _FuI2cDeviceClass
 };
 
 guint		 fu_i2c_device_get_bus_number		(FuI2cDevice	*self);
+void		 fu_i2c_device_set_bus_number		(FuI2cDevice	*self,
+							 guint		 bus_number);
 gboolean	 fu_i2c_device_read			(FuI2cDevice	*self,
 							 guint8		*data,
 							 GError		**error)
diff --git a/libfwupdplugin/fwupdplugin.map b/libfwupdplugin/fwupdplugin.map
index ee8289d8c..9bd4bf0e1 100644
--- a/libfwupdplugin/fwupdplugin.map
+++ b/libfwupdplugin/fwupdplugin.map
@@ -828,5 +828,6 @@ LIBFWUPDPLUGIN_1.6.2 {
     fu_device_register_private_flag;
     fu_device_remove_private_flag;
     fu_device_set_private_flags;
+    fu_i2c_device_set_bus_number;
   local: *;
 } LIBFWUPDPLUGIN_1.6.1;