diff --git a/lib/command.c b/lib/command.c
index fd4b2e2427..4f5b727ac5 100644
--- a/lib/command.c
+++ b/lib/command.c
@@ -4154,6 +4154,12 @@ host_config_set (const char *filename)
   host.config = XSTRDUP (MTYPE_HOST, filename);
 }
 
+const char *
+host_config_get (void)
+{
+  return host.config;
+}
+
 void
 install_default (enum node_type node)
 {
diff --git a/lib/command.h b/lib/command.h
index fd0918f118..ad9ccf505e 100644
--- a/lib/command.h
+++ b/lib/command.h
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ extern struct cmd_element config_exit_cmd;
 extern struct cmd_element config_quit_cmd;
 extern struct cmd_element config_help_cmd;
 extern struct cmd_element config_list_cmd;
-extern char *host_config_file (void);
+extern const char *host_config_get (void);
 extern void host_config_set (const char *);
 
 extern void print_version (const char *);