diff --git a/library/Icingadb/Common/ServiceStates.php b/library/Icingadb/Common/ServiceStates.php
index 4733a372..89929957 100644
--- a/library/Icingadb/Common/ServiceStates.php
+++ b/library/Icingadb/Common/ServiceStates.php
@@ -17,6 +17,40 @@ class ServiceStates
 
     const PENDING = 99;
 
+    /**
+     * Get the integer value of the given textual service state
+     *
+     * @param string $state
+     *
+     * @return int
+     *
+     * @throws \InvalidArgumentException If the given service state is invalid, i.e. not known
+     */
+    public static function int($state)
+    {
+        switch (strtolower($state)) {
+            case 'ok':
+                $int = self::OK;
+                break;
+            case 'warning':
+                $int = self::WARNING;
+                break;
+            case 'critical':
+                $int = self::CRITICAL;
+                break;
+            case 'unknown':
+                $int = self::UNKNOWN;
+                break;
+            case 'pending':
+                $int = self::PENDING;
+                break;
+            default:
+                throw new \InvalidArgumentException(sprintf('Invalid service state %d', $state));
+        }
+
+        return $int;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Get the textual representation of the passed service state
      *