diff --git a/src/common.c b/src/common.c
index 71376815..77265994 100644
--- a/src/common.c
+++ b/src/common.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #include <stddef.h>
+#include <string.h>
 
 #include "src/iwd.h"
 #include "src/common.h"
@@ -44,3 +45,19 @@ const char *security_to_str(enum security security)
 
 	return NULL;
 }
+
+bool security_from_str(const char *str, enum security *security)
+{
+	if (!strcmp(str, "open"))
+		*security = SECURITY_NONE;
+	else if (!strcmp(str, "wep"))
+		*security = SECURITY_WEP;
+	else if (!strcmp(str, "psk"))
+		*security = SECURITY_PSK;
+	else if (!strcmp(str, "8021x"))
+		*security = SECURITY_8021X;
+	else
+		return false;
+
+	return true;
+}
diff --git a/src/common.h b/src/common.h
index e300524e..766d0bea 100644
--- a/src/common.h
+++ b/src/common.h
@@ -20,4 +20,9 @@
  *
  */
 
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
+enum security;
+
 const char *security_to_str(enum security security);
+bool security_from_str(const char *str, enum security *security);