diff --git a/sk.c b/sk.c
index ad30f71..63ec206 100644
--- a/sk.c
+++ b/sk.c
@@ -80,6 +80,16 @@ static int hwts_init(int fd, const char *device, int rx_filter, int one_step)
 
 /* public methods */
 
+int sk_interface_fd(void)
+{
+	int fd = socket(PF_INET, SOCK_DGRAM, IPPROTO_UDP);
+	if (fd < 0) {
+		pr_err("socket failed: %m");
+		return -1;
+	}
+	return fd;
+}
+
 int sk_interface_index(int fd, const char *name)
 {
 	struct ifreq ifreq;
diff --git a/sk.h b/sk.h
index 31cc88e..d91d5d8 100644
--- a/sk.h
+++ b/sk.h
@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ struct sk_ts_info {
 	unsigned int rx_filters;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Obtains a socket suitable for use with sk_interface_index().
+ * @return  An open socket on success, -1 otherwise.
+ */
+int sk_interface_fd(void);
+
 /**
  * Obtain the numerical index from a network interface by name.
  * @param fd      An open socket.