diff --git a/src/libostree/ostree-sysroot-upgrader.c b/src/libostree/ostree-sysroot-upgrader.c
index 573d3d2d..3d656416 100644
--- a/src/libostree/ostree-sysroot-upgrader.c
+++ b/src/libostree/ostree-sysroot-upgrader.c
@@ -329,6 +329,20 @@ ostree_sysroot_upgrader_set_origin (OstreeSysrootUpgrader *self,
   return ret;
 }
 
+/**
+ * ostree_sysroot_upgrader_get_origin_description:
+ * @self: Upgrader
+ *
+ * Returns: A one-line descriptive summary of the origin, or %NULL if unknown
+ */
+char *
+ostree_sysroot_upgrader_get_origin_description (OstreeSysrootUpgrader *self)
+{
+  if (!self->origin)
+    return NULL;
+  return g_key_file_get_string (self->origin, "origin", "refspec", NULL);
+}
+
 /**
  * ostree_sysroot_upgrader_check_timestamps:
  * @repo: Repo
diff --git a/src/libostree/ostree-sysroot-upgrader.h b/src/libostree/ostree-sysroot-upgrader.h
index 79f36355..a4e6b77a 100644
--- a/src/libostree/ostree-sysroot-upgrader.h
+++ b/src/libostree/ostree-sysroot-upgrader.h
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ GKeyFile *ostree_sysroot_upgrader_get_origin (OstreeSysrootUpgrader *self);
 gboolean ostree_sysroot_upgrader_set_origin (OstreeSysrootUpgrader *self, GKeyFile *origin,
                                              GCancellable *cancellable, GError **error);
 
+char *ostree_sysroot_upgrader_get_origin_description (OstreeSysrootUpgrader *self);
+
 gboolean ostree_sysroot_upgrader_check_timestamps (OstreeRepo     *repo,
                                                    const char     *from_rev,
                                                    const char     *to_rev,