diff --git a/lib/private/User/User.php b/lib/private/User/User.php
index e171a65f8ce..06dd47b0887 100644
--- a/lib/private/User/User.php
+++ b/lib/private/User/User.php
@@ -302,6 +302,10 @@ class User implements IUser {
 		return get_class($this->backend);
 	}
 
+	public function getBackend() {
+		return $this->backend;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * check if the backend allows the user to change his avatar on Personal page
 	 *
diff --git a/lib/public/IUser.php b/lib/public/IUser.php
index 3d8515a5e03..a3d7c6b71a6 100644
--- a/lib/public/IUser.php
+++ b/lib/public/IUser.php
@@ -108,6 +108,13 @@ interface IUser {
 	 */
 	public function getBackendClassName();
 
+	/**
+	 * Get the backend for the current user object
+	 *
+	 * @since 15.0.0
+	 */
+	public function getBackend();
+
 	/**
 	 * check if the backend allows the user to change his avatar on Personal page
 	 *