diff --git a/liblvm/.exported_symbols b/liblvm/.exported_symbols
index d0e87df64..6708154d0 100644
--- a/liblvm/.exported_symbols
+++ b/liblvm/.exported_symbols
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ lvm_vg_get_extent_size
 lvm_vg_get_extent_count
 lvm_vg_get_free_extent_count
 lvm_vg_get_pv_count
+lvm_lv_activate
+lvm_lv_deactivate
 lvm_lv_get_uuid
 lvm_lv_get_name
 lvm_lv_get_size
diff --git a/liblvm/lvm.h b/liblvm/lvm.h
index 3aa49afbb..13c723d27 100644
--- a/liblvm/lvm.h
+++ b/liblvm/lvm.h
@@ -442,6 +442,31 @@ struct dm_list *lvm_vg_list_lvs(vg_t *vg);
  */
 lv_t *lvm_vg_create_lv_linear(vg_t *vg, const char *name, uint64_t size);
 
+/**
+ * Activate a logical volume.
+ *
+ * This API is the equivalent of the lvm command "lvchange -ay".
+ *
+ * NOTE: This API cannot currently handle LVs with an in-progress pvmove or
+ * lvconvert.
+ *
+ * \param   lv
+ *          Logical volume handle.
+ * \return  0 (success) or -1 (failure).
+ */
+int lvm_lv_activate(lv_t *lv);
+
+/**
+ * Deactivate a logical volume.
+ *
+ * This API is the equivalent of the lvm command "lvchange -an".
+ *
+ * \param   lv
+ *          Logical volume handle.
+ * \return  0 (success) or -1 (failure).
+ */
+int lvm_lv_deactivate(lv_t *lv);
+
 /**
  * Remove a logical volume from a volume group.
  *
diff --git a/liblvm/lvm_lv.c b/liblvm/lvm_lv.c
index e66789413..78057afe8 100644
--- a/liblvm/lvm_lv.c
+++ b/liblvm/lvm_lv.c
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 #include "lvm-string.h"
 #include "defaults.h"
 #include "segtype.h"
+#include "locking.h"
+
 #include <string.h>
 
 /* FIXME: have lib/report/report.c _disp function call lv_size()? */
@@ -104,3 +106,51 @@ int lvm_vg_remove_lv(lv_t *lv)
 		return -1;
 	return 0;
 }
+
+int lvm_lv_activate(lv_t *lv)
+{
+	if (!lv || !lv->vg || vg_read_error(lv->vg) || !lv->vg->cmd)
+		return -1;
+
+	/* FIXME: handle pvmove stuff later */
+	if (lv->status & LOCKED) {
+		log_error("Unable to activate locked LV\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* FIXME: handle lvconvert stuff later */
+	if (lv->status & CONVERTING) {
+		log_error("Unable to activate LV with in-progress lvconvert\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (lv_is_origin(lv)) {
+		log_verbose("Activating logical volume \"%s\" "
+			    "exclusively", lv->name);
+		if (!activate_lv_excl(lv->vg->cmd, lv)) {
+			log_error("Activate exclusive failed.\n");
+			return -1;
+		}
+	} else {
+		log_verbose("Activating logical volume \"%s\"",
+			    lv->name);
+		if (!activate_lv(lv->vg->cmd, lv)) {
+			log_error("Activate failed.\n");
+			return -1;
+		}
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int lvm_lv_deactivate(lv_t *lv)
+{
+	if (!lv || !lv->vg || vg_read_error(lv->vg) || !lv->vg->cmd)
+		return -1;
+
+	log_verbose("Deactivating logical volume \"%s\"", lv->name);
+	if (!deactivate_lv(lv->vg->cmd, lv)) {
+		log_error("Deactivate failed.\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}