diff --git a/src/lib/io/kfileutils.h b/src/lib/io/kfileutils.h
--- a/src/lib/io/kfileutils.h
+++ b/src/lib/io/kfileutils.h
@@ -39,5 +39,19 @@
  */
 KCOREADDONS_EXPORT QString suggestName(const QUrl &baseURL, const QString &oldName);
 
+/**
+ * Returns whether the @p url of @p mimetype is executable.
+ * To be executable the file must pass the following rules:
+ * -# Must reside on the local filesystem.
+ * -# Must be marked as executable for the user by the filesystem.
+ * -# The mime type must inherit application/x-executable, application/x-executable-script or application/x-sharedlib.
+ * To allow a script to run when the above rules are satisfied add the entry
+ * @code
+ * X-KDE-IsAlso=application/x-executable-script
+ * @endcode
+ * to the mimetype's desktop file.
+ */
+KCOREADDONS_EXPORT bool isExecutableFile(const QUrl &url, const QString &mimetype);
+
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/lib/io/kfileutils.cpp b/src/lib/io/kfileutils.cpp
--- a/src/lib/io/kfileutils.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/io/kfileutils.cpp
@@ -71,3 +71,26 @@
         return suggestName(baseURL, suggestedName);
     }
 }
+
+bool KFileUtils::isExecutableFile(const QUrl &url, const QString &mimetype)
+{
+    if (!url.isLocalFile()) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    QFileInfo file(url.toLocalFile());
+    if (file.isExecutable()) {    // Got a prospective file to run
+        QMimeDatabase db;
+        QMimeType mimeType = db.mimeTypeForName(mimetype);
+        if (mimeType.inherits(QStringLiteral("application/x-executable")) ||
+#ifdef Q_OS_WIN
+                mimeType.inherits(QStringLiteral("application/x-ms-dos-executable")) ||
+#endif
+                mimeType.inherits(QStringLiteral("application/x-executable-script")) ||
+                mimeType.inherits(QStringLiteral("application/x-sharedlib"))
+           ) {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+