diff --git a/src/basic/stat-util.c b/src/basic/stat-util.c
index 3bef0dfe44..8b63eb360b 100644
--- a/src/basic/stat-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/stat-util.c
@@ -296,3 +296,26 @@ int fd_verify_regular(int fd) {
 
         return stat_verify_regular(&st);
 }
+
+int stat_verify_directory(const struct stat *st) {
+        assert(st);
+
+        if (S_ISLNK(st->st_mode))
+                return -ELOOP;
+
+        if (!S_ISDIR(st->st_mode))
+                return -ENOTDIR;
+
+        return 0;
+}
+
+int fd_verify_directory(int fd) {
+        struct stat st;
+
+        assert(fd >= 0);
+
+        if (fstat(fd, &st) < 0)
+                return -errno;
+
+        return stat_verify_directory(&st);
+}
diff --git a/src/basic/stat-util.h b/src/basic/stat-util.h
index 1a725f1da0..84400a6083 100644
--- a/src/basic/stat-util.h
+++ b/src/basic/stat-util.h
@@ -59,3 +59,6 @@ int path_is_temporary_fs(const char *path);
 
 int stat_verify_regular(const struct stat *st);
 int fd_verify_regular(int fd);
+
+int stat_verify_directory(const struct stat *st);
+int fd_verify_directory(int fd);