diff --git a/smack-im/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/roster/RosterUtil.java b/smack-im/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/roster/RosterUtil.java
index 7f13a4aff..1ee9cbaa8 100644
--- a/smack-im/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/roster/RosterUtil.java
+++ b/smack-im/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/roster/RosterUtil.java
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import java.util.concurrent.locks.Condition;
 import java.util.concurrent.locks.Lock;
 import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;
 
+import org.jivesoftware.smack.SmackException.NotConnectedException;
+import org.jivesoftware.smack.SmackException.NotLoggedInException;
 import org.jxmpp.jid.BareJid;
 import org.jxmpp.jid.Jid;
 
@@ -80,4 +82,12 @@ public class RosterUtil {
             roster.removeRosterListener(rosterListener);
         }
     }
+
+    public static void askForSubscriptionIfRequired(Roster roster, BareJid jid)
+            throws NotLoggedInException, NotConnectedException, InterruptedException {
+        RosterEntry entry = roster.getEntry(jid);
+        if (entry == null || !(entry.canSeeHisPresence() || entry.isSubscriptionPending())) {
+            roster.sendSubscriptionRequest(jid);
+        }
+    }
 }