diff --git a/nest/password.c b/nest/password.c
index 6a020287..b8acb53b 100644
--- a/nest/password.c
+++ b/nest/password.c
@@ -51,3 +51,11 @@ password_strncpy(char *to, char *from, int len)
   }
 }
 
+int
+password_same(struct password_item *old, struct password_item *new)
+{
+  return ((old->from == new->from) &&
+	  (old->to == new->to) &&
+	  (old->passive == new->passive) &&
+	  password_same(old, new));
+}
diff --git a/nest/password.h b/nest/password.h
index 119aa707..481eeb61 100644
--- a/nest/password.h
+++ b/nest/password.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ struct password_item {
 extern struct password_item *last_password_item;
 
 struct password_item *get_best_password(struct password_item *head, int flags);
+extern int password_same(struct password_item *, struct password_item *);
 extern void password_strncpy(char *to, char *from, int len);