diff --git a/lib/libutil/Makefile b/lib/libutil/Makefile
index f126b6921cb3..6975b43323b1 100644
--- a/lib/libutil/Makefile
+++ b/lib/libutil/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#	$NetBSD: Makefile,v 1.25 2000/05/12 18:31:55 mjl Exp $
+#	$NetBSD: Makefile,v 1.26 2000/07/06 11:08:19 ad Exp $
 #	@(#)Makefile	8.1 (Berkeley) 6/4/93
 
 LIB=	util
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ SRCS=	fparseln.c getmaxpartitions.c getrawpartition.c \
 
 MAN=	fparseln.3 getmaxpartitions.3 getrawpartition.3 \
 	login.3 login_cap.3 opendisk.3 \
-	openpty.3 pidfile.3 pidlock.3 pw_init.3 pw_lock.3 \
+	openpty.3 pidfile.3 pidlock.3 pw_getconf.3 pw_init.3 pw_lock.3 \
 	securepath.3 ttyaction.3 ttymsg.3
 
 .PATH:	${.CURDIR}/../libc/gen
diff --git a/lib/libutil/pw_getconf.3 b/lib/libutil/pw_getconf.3
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6266979c0f8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/libutil/pw_getconf.3
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+.\"	$NetBSD: pw_getconf.3,v 1.1 2000/07/06 11:08:19 ad Exp $
+.\"
+.\" Copyright 1997 Niels Provos <provos@physnet.uni-hamburg.de>
+.\" All rights reserved.
+.\"
+.\" Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+.\" modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+.\" are met:
+.\" 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+.\"    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+.\" 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+.\"    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+.\"    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+.\" 3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software
+.\"    must display the following acknowledgement:
+.\"      This product includes software developed by Niels Provos.
+.\" 4. The name of the author may not be used to endorse or promote products
+.\"    derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+.\"
+.\" THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
+.\" IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
+.\" OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.
+.\" IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
+.\" INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
+.\" NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+.\" DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+.\" THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+.\" (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
+.\" THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+.\"
+.\" from OpenBSD: pw_getconf.3,v 1.5 1999/09/21 04:52:46 csapuntz Exp
+.\"
+.Dd July 6, 2000
+.Dt PW_GETCONF 3
+.Os
+.Sh NAME
+.Nm pw_getconf
+.Nd passwd configuration access function
+.Sh SYNOPSIS
+.Fd #include <util.h>
+.Ft void
+.Fn pw_getconf "char *data" "size_t len" "const char *key" "const char *option"
+.Sh DESCRIPTION
+The
+.Fn pw_getconf
+function reads
+.Pa /etc/passwd.conf
+and retrieves the value of the option specified
+by
+.Pa option
+from the section given be
+.Pa key .
+If no suitable entry is found
+for the
+.Pa key
+an empty string will be returned in data.
+.Pp
+For default values the key
+.Pa default
+can be used, this might be useful when no entry was found
+for a specific key or option.
+.Pp
+An empty string is also returned for other errors.
+.Sh FILES
+.Bl -tag -width /etc/passwd.conf -compact
+.It Pa /etc/passwd.conf
+.El
+.Sh SEE ALSO
+.Xr passwd 5 ,
+.Xr passwd.conf 5
+.Sh HISTORY
+.Fn pw_getconf
+first appeared in
+.Nx 1.6 .