diff --git a/modules/user/helpers/user.php b/modules/user/helpers/user.php
index 527db145..30b95099 100644
--- a/modules/user/helpers/user.php
+++ b/modules/user/helpers/user.php
@@ -281,6 +281,19 @@ class user_Core {
     return null;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Look up a user by id.
+   * @param integer      $id the user id
+   * @return User_Model  the user object, or null if the id was invalid.
+   */
+  static function lookup_by_name($name) {
+    $user = model_cache::get("user", $name, "name");
+    if ($user->loaded) {
+      return $user;
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Create a hashed password using md5 plus salt.
    * @param string $password plaintext password