diff --git a/elf/dl-object.c b/elf/dl-object.c
index b37bcc1295..144ba6c993 100644
--- a/elf/dl-object.c
+++ b/elf/dl-object.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <ldsodefs.h>
+#include <libintl.h>
 
 #include <assert.h>
 
@@ -50,6 +51,82 @@ _dl_add_to_namespace_list (struct link_map *new, Lmid_t nsid)
   __rtld_lock_unlock_recursive (GL(dl_load_write_lock));
 }
 
+/* Clone an existing link map entry into a new link map.  */
+/* This is based on _dl_new_object, skipping the steps we know we won't need
+   because this is mostly just a shell for the l_real pointer holding the real
+   link map entry (normally l == l->l_real, but not for ld.so in non-main
+   link maps or RTLD_SHARED clones).
+   It also flags the clone by setting l_clone, and sets the the no-delete
+   flag in the original.  */
+struct link_map *
+_dl_clone_object (struct link_map *old, int mode, Lmid_t nsid)
+{
+  const char *name;
+  struct link_map *new;
+  struct libname_list *newname;
+#ifdef SHARED
+  /* See _dl_new_object for how this number is arrived at:  */
+  unsigned int na = GLRO(dl_naudit) ?: ((mode & __RTLD_OPENEXEC) ? DL_NNS : 0);
+  size_t audit_space = na * sizeof (new->l_audit[0]);
+#else
+# define audit_space 0
+#endif
+
+  name = old->l_name;
+
+  /* Don't clone a clone: Go to the progenitor.  */
+  while (old && old->l_clone)
+    old = old->l_real;
+
+  if (old == NULL)
+    _dl_signal_error (EINVAL, name, NULL, N_("cannot clone NULL link_map"));
+
+  /* Object already exists in the target namespace. This should get handled
+     by dl_open_worker but just in case we get this far, handle it:  */
+  if (__glibc_unlikely (old->l_ns == nsid))
+    {
+      /* Not actually possible, given the sanity checks above.  */
+      if (old->l_clone)
+        return old;
+
+      _dl_signal_error (EEXIST, name, NULL,
+                        N_("object cannot be demoted to a clone"));
+    }
+
+  /* Now duplicate as little of _dl_new_object as possible to get a
+     working cloned object in the target link map.  */
+  new = (struct link_map *) calloc (sizeof (*new) + audit_space
+                                    + sizeof (struct link_map *)
+                                    + sizeof (*newname) + PATH_MAX, 1);
+
+  /* Specific to the clone.  */
+  new->l_real = old;
+  new->l_clone = 1;
+  new->l_ns = nsid;
+
+  /* Copied from the origin.  */
+  new->l_libname = old->l_libname;
+  new->l_name = old->l_name;
+  new->l_type = old->l_type;
+
+  if (__glibc_unlikely (mode & RTLD_NODELETE))
+    new->l_flags_1 |= DF_1_NODELETE;
+
+  /* Specific to the origin. Ideally we'd do some accounting here but
+     for now it's easier to pin the original so the clone remains valid.  */
+  old->l_flags_1 |= DF_1_NODELETE;
+
+  /* Fix up the searchlist so that relocations work.  */
+  /* TODO: figure out if we should call _dl_map_object_deps
+     or copy the contents of l_scope, l_searchlist et al.  */
+  _dl_map_object_deps (new, NULL, 0, 0,
+		       mode & (__RTLD_DLOPEN | RTLD_DEEPBIND | __RTLD_AUDIT));
+
+  /* And finally put the clone into the target namespace.  */
+  _dl_add_to_namespace_list (new, nsid);
+
+  return new;
+}
 
 /* Allocate a `struct link_map' for a new object being loaded,
    and enter it into the _dl_loaded list.  */
diff --git a/sysdeps/generic/ldsodefs.h b/sysdeps/generic/ldsodefs.h
index 5e1b24ecb5..573d24f611 100644
--- a/sysdeps/generic/ldsodefs.h
+++ b/sysdeps/generic/ldsodefs.h
@@ -913,6 +913,12 @@ extern lookup_t _dl_lookup_symbol_x (const char *undef,
 extern void _dl_add_to_namespace_list (struct link_map *new, Lmid_t nsid)
      attribute_hidden;
 
+/* Clone an existing link map entry into a new link map */
+extern struct link_map *_dl_clone_object (struct link_map *old,
+                                          int mode,
+                                          Lmid_t nsid)
+     attribute_hidden;
+
 /* Allocate a `struct link_map' for a new object being loaded.  */
 extern struct link_map *_dl_new_object (char *realname, const char *libname,
 					int type, struct link_map *loader,
