diff --git a/src/conf.c b/src/conf.c
index e017f1209..74e1f5337 100644
--- a/src/conf.c
+++ b/src/conf.c
@@ -407,6 +407,26 @@ config_get_path(const char *name)
 	return param->value = path;
 }
 
+unsigned
+config_get_positive(const char *name, unsigned default_value)
+{
+	struct config_param *param = config_get_param(name);
+	long value;
+	char *endptr;
+
+	if (param == NULL)
+		return default_value;
+
+	value = strtol(param->value, &endptr, 0);
+	if (*endptr != 0)
+		g_error("Not a valid number in line %i", param->line);
+
+	if (value <= 0)
+		g_error("Not a positive number in line %i", param->line);
+
+	return (unsigned)value;
+}
+
 struct block_param *
 getBlockParam(struct config_param * param, const char *name)
 {
diff --git a/src/conf.h b/src/conf.h
index f94f6554f..e9c750368 100644
--- a/src/conf.h
+++ b/src/conf.h
@@ -110,6 +110,9 @@ config_get_string(const char *name, const char *default_value);
 const char *
 config_get_path(const char *name);
 
+unsigned
+config_get_positive(const char *name, unsigned default_value);
+
 struct block_param *
 getBlockParam(struct config_param *param, const char *name);