diff --git a/src/libstore/profiles.cc b/src/libstore/profiles.cc
index 239047dd6..d8717ab8b 100644
--- a/src/libstore/profiles.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/profiles.cc
@@ -320,6 +320,17 @@ Path rootProfilesDir()
     return settings.nixStateDir + "/profiles/per-user/root";
 }
 
+Path getDefaultProfileLink()
+{
+    if (getuid() == 0) {
+        return settings.nixStateDir + "/profiles/default";
+    }
+
+    if (settings.useXDGBaseDirectories) {
+        return createNixStateDir() + "/profile";
+    }
+    return getHome() + "/.nix-profile";
+}
 
 Path getDefaultProfile()
 {
diff --git a/src/libstore/profiles.hh b/src/libstore/profiles.hh
index 193c0bf21..bed8bf527 100644
--- a/src/libstore/profiles.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/profiles.hh
@@ -227,6 +227,12 @@ Path defaultChannelsDir();
  */
 Path rootChannelsDir();
 
+/**
+ * Get the symlink that is used as the default profile, but do not resolve it.
+ * (see getDefaultProfile() for where that link is.)
+ */
+Path getDefaultProfileLink();
+
 /**
  * Resolve the default profile (~/.nix-profile by default,
  * $XDG_STATE_HOME/nix/profile if XDG Base Directory Support is enabled),