diff --git a/crypto/ui/ui.h b/crypto/ui/ui.h
index 9a03e8a9e..452d9dcbf 100644
--- a/crypto/ui/ui.h
+++ b/crypto/ui/ui.h
@@ -129,6 +129,19 @@ int UI_dup_info_string(UI *ui, const char *text);
 int UI_add_error_string(UI *ui, const char *text);
 int UI_dup_error_string(UI *ui, const char *text);
 
+/* The following function is used to store a pointer to user-specific data.
+   Any previous such pointer will be returned and replaced.
+
+   For callback purposes, this function makes a lot more sense than using
+   ex_data, since the latter requires that different parts of OpenSSL or
+   applications share the same ex_data index.
+
+   Note that the UI_OpenSSL() method completely ignores the user data.
+   Other methods may not, however.  */
+void *UI_add_user_data(UI *ui, void *user_data);
+/* We need a user data retrieving function as well.  */
+void *UI_get0_user_data(UI *ui);
+
 /* Return the result associated with a prompt given with the index i. */
 const char *UI_get0_result(UI *ui, int i);
 
diff --git a/crypto/ui/ui_lib.c b/crypto/ui/ui_lib.c
index c5d17042f..f8881dee0 100644
--- a/crypto/ui/ui_lib.c
+++ b/crypto/ui/ui_lib.c
@@ -256,6 +256,18 @@ int UI_dup_error_string(UI *ui, const char *text)
 		NULL);
 	}
 
+void *UI_add_user_data(UI *ui, void *user_data)
+	{
+	void *old_data = ui->user_data;
+	ui->user_data = user_data;
+	return old_data;
+	}
+
+void *UI_get0_user_data(UI *ui)
+	{
+	return ui->user_data;
+	}
+
 const char *UI_get0_result(UI *ui, int i)
 	{
 	if (i < 0)
diff --git a/crypto/ui/ui_locl.h b/crypto/ui/ui_locl.h
index d5470a6c0..4adf0d821 100644
--- a/crypto/ui/ui_locl.h
+++ b/crypto/ui/ui_locl.h
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ struct ui_st
 	STACK_OF(UI_STRING) *strings; /* We might want to prompt for more
 					 than one thing at a time, and
 					 with different echoing status.  */
+	void *user_data;
 	CRYPTO_EX_DATA ex_data;
 	};