diff --git a/include/qemu/sockets.h b/include/qemu/sockets.h
index c562690d89..578aef13cf 100644
--- a/include/qemu/sockets.h
+++ b/include/qemu/sockets.h
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ int inet_connect_saddr(InetSocketAddress *saddr, Error **errp);
 
 NetworkAddressFamily inet_netfamily(int family);
 
+/* part of unix-sockets.c */
 int unix_listen(const char *path, Error **errp);
 int unix_connect(const char *path, Error **errp);
 
diff --git a/util/socket-helpers.h b/util/socket-helpers.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f72925148a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/socket-helpers.h
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+/*
+ * Common helper functions for unix and qemu sockets
+ *
+ * (c) 2008 Gerd Hoffmann <kraxel@redhat.com>
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
+ */
+
+#ifndef _SOCKET_HELPERS_H_
+#define _SOCKET_HELPERS_H_
+
+#include "qapi/qapi-visit-sockets.h"
+
+int unix_connect_saddr(UnixSocketAddress *saddr, Error **errp);
+int unix_listen_saddr(UnixSocketAddress *saddr, int num, Error **errp);
+
+#endif /* _SOCKET_HELPERS_H_ */
diff --git a/util/qemu-sockets.c b/util/qemu-sockets.c
index 77477c1cd5..a5c3515082 100644
--- a/util/qemu-sockets.c
+++ b/util/qemu-sockets.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- *  inet and unix socket functions for qemu
+ *  inet socket functions for qemu
  *
  *  (c) 2008 Gerd Hoffmann <kraxel@redhat.com>
  *
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "qapi/qobject-input-visitor.h"
 #include "qapi/qobject-output-visitor.h"
 #include "qemu/cutils.h"
+#include "socket-helpers.h"
 #include "trace.h"
 
 #ifndef AI_ADDRCONFIG
@@ -853,202 +854,6 @@ static int vsock_parse(VsockSocketAddress *addr, const char *str,
 }
 #endif /* CONFIG_AF_VSOCK */
 
-static bool saddr_is_abstract(UnixSocketAddress *saddr)
-{
-#ifdef CONFIG_LINUX
-    return saddr->abstract;
-#else
-    return false;
-#endif
-}
-
-static bool saddr_is_tight(UnixSocketAddress *saddr)
-{
-#ifdef CONFIG_LINUX
-    return !saddr->has_tight || saddr->tight;
-#else
-    return false;
-#endif
-}
-
-static int unix_listen_saddr(UnixSocketAddress *saddr,
-                             int num,
-                             Error **errp)
-{
-    bool abstract = saddr_is_abstract(saddr);
-    struct sockaddr_un un;
-    int sock, fd;
-    char *pathbuf = NULL;
-    const char *path;
-    size_t pathlen;
-    size_t addrlen;
-
-    sock = qemu_socket(PF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
-    if (sock < 0) {
-        error_setg_errno(errp, errno, "Failed to create Unix socket");
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    if (saddr->path[0] || abstract) {
-        path = saddr->path;
-    } else {
-        path = pathbuf = g_strdup_printf("%s/qemu-socket-XXXXXX",
-                                         g_get_tmp_dir());
-    }
-
-    pathlen = strlen(path);
-    if (pathlen > sizeof(un.sun_path) ||
-        (abstract && pathlen > (sizeof(un.sun_path) - 1))) {
-        error_setg(errp, "UNIX socket path '%s' is too long", path);
-        error_append_hint(errp, "Path must be less than %zu bytes\n",
-                          abstract ? sizeof(un.sun_path) - 1 :
-                          sizeof(un.sun_path));
-        goto err;
-    }
-
-    if (pathbuf != NULL) {
-        /*
-         * This dummy fd usage silences the mktemp() insecure warning.
-         * Using mkstemp() doesn't make things more secure here
-         * though.  bind() complains about existing files, so we have
-         * to unlink first and thus re-open the race window.  The
-         * worst case possible is bind() failing, i.e. a DoS attack.
-         */
-        fd = mkstemp(pathbuf);
-        if (fd < 0) {
-            error_setg_errno(errp, errno,
-                             "Failed to make a temporary socket %s", pathbuf);
-            goto err;
-        }
-        close(fd);
-    }
-
-    if (!abstract && unlink(path) < 0 && errno != ENOENT) {
-        error_setg_errno(errp, errno,
-                         "Failed to unlink socket %s", path);
-        goto err;
-    }
-
-    memset(&un, 0, sizeof(un));
-    un.sun_family = AF_UNIX;
-    addrlen = sizeof(un);
-
-    if (abstract) {
-        un.sun_path[0] = '\0';
-        memcpy(&un.sun_path[1], path, pathlen);
-        if (saddr_is_tight(saddr)) {
-            addrlen = offsetof(struct sockaddr_un, sun_path) + 1 + pathlen;
-        }
-    } else {
-        memcpy(un.sun_path, path, pathlen);
-    }
-
-    if (bind(sock, (struct sockaddr *) &un, addrlen) < 0) {
-        error_setg_errno(errp, errno, "Failed to bind socket to %s", path);
-        goto err;
-    }
-    if (listen(sock, num) < 0) {
-        error_setg_errno(errp, errno, "Failed to listen on socket");
-        goto err;
-    }
-
-    g_free(pathbuf);
-    return sock;
-
-err:
-    g_free(pathbuf);
-    close(sock);
-    return -1;
-}
-
-static int unix_connect_saddr(UnixSocketAddress *saddr, Error **errp)
-{
-    bool abstract = saddr_is_abstract(saddr);
-    struct sockaddr_un un;
-    int sock, rc;
-    size_t pathlen;
-    size_t addrlen;
-
-    if (saddr->path == NULL) {
-        error_setg(errp, "unix connect: no path specified");
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    sock = qemu_socket(PF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
-    if (sock < 0) {
-        error_setg_errno(errp, errno, "Failed to create socket");
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    pathlen = strlen(saddr->path);
-    if (pathlen > sizeof(un.sun_path) ||
-        (abstract && pathlen > (sizeof(un.sun_path) - 1))) {
-        error_setg(errp, "UNIX socket path '%s' is too long", saddr->path);
-        error_append_hint(errp, "Path must be less than %zu bytes\n",
-                          abstract ? sizeof(un.sun_path) - 1 :
-                          sizeof(un.sun_path));
-        goto err;
-    }
-
-    memset(&un, 0, sizeof(un));
-    un.sun_family = AF_UNIX;
-    addrlen = sizeof(un);
-
-    if (abstract) {
-        un.sun_path[0] = '\0';
-        memcpy(&un.sun_path[1], saddr->path, pathlen);
-        if (saddr_is_tight(saddr)) {
-            addrlen = offsetof(struct sockaddr_un, sun_path) + 1 + pathlen;
-        }
-    } else {
-        memcpy(un.sun_path, saddr->path, pathlen);
-    }
-    /* connect to peer */
-    do {
-        rc = 0;
-        if (connect(sock, (struct sockaddr *) &un, addrlen) < 0) {
-            rc = -errno;
-        }
-    } while (rc == -EINTR);
-
-    if (rc < 0) {
-        error_setg_errno(errp, -rc, "Failed to connect to '%s'",
-                         saddr->path);
-        goto err;
-    }
-
-    return sock;
-
- err:
-    close(sock);
-    return -1;
-}
-
-/* compatibility wrapper */
-int unix_listen(const char *str, Error **errp)
-{
-    UnixSocketAddress *saddr;
-    int sock;
-
-    saddr = g_new0(UnixSocketAddress, 1);
-    saddr->path = g_strdup(str);
-    sock = unix_listen_saddr(saddr, 1, errp);
-    qapi_free_UnixSocketAddress(saddr);
-    return sock;
-}
-
-int unix_connect(const char *path, Error **errp)
-{
-    UnixSocketAddress *saddr;
-    int sock;
-
-    saddr = g_new0(UnixSocketAddress, 1);
-    saddr->path = g_strdup(path);
-    sock = unix_connect_saddr(saddr, errp);
-    qapi_free_UnixSocketAddress(saddr);
-    return sock;
-}
-
 char *socket_uri(SocketAddress *addr)
 {
     switch (addr->type) {
diff --git a/util/unix-sockets.c b/util/unix-sockets.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e271dd3e09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/unix-sockets.c
@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+/*
+ * unix socket functions for qemu
+ *
+ * (c) 2008 Gerd Hoffmann <kraxel@redhat.com>
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
+ */
+
+#include "qemu/osdep.h"
+#include "qemu/sockets.h"
+#include "qapi/error.h"
+
+#include "socket-helpers.h"
+
+static bool saddr_is_abstract(UnixSocketAddress *saddr)
+{
+#ifdef CONFIG_LINUX
+    return saddr->abstract;
+#else
+    return false;
+#endif
+}
+
+static bool saddr_is_tight(UnixSocketAddress *saddr)
+{
+#ifdef CONFIG_LINUX
+    return !saddr->has_tight || saddr->tight;
+#else
+    return false;
+#endif
+}
+
+int unix_listen_saddr(UnixSocketAddress *saddr, int num, Error **errp)
+{
+    bool abstract = saddr_is_abstract(saddr);
+    struct sockaddr_un un;
+    int sock, fd;
+    char *pathbuf = NULL;
+    const char *path;
+    size_t pathlen;
+    size_t addrlen;
+
+    sock = qemu_socket(PF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+    if (sock < 0) {
+        error_setg_errno(errp, errno, "Failed to create Unix socket");
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (saddr->path[0] || abstract) {
+        path = saddr->path;
+    } else {
+        path = pathbuf = g_strdup_printf("%s/qemu-socket-XXXXXX",
+                                         g_get_tmp_dir());
+    }
+
+    pathlen = strlen(path);
+    if (pathlen > sizeof(un.sun_path) ||
+        (abstract && pathlen > (sizeof(un.sun_path) - 1))) {
+        error_setg(errp, "UNIX socket path '%s' is too long", path);
+        error_append_hint(errp, "Path must be less than %zu bytes\n",
+                          abstract ? sizeof(un.sun_path) - 1 :
+                          sizeof(un.sun_path));
+        goto err;
+    }
+
+    if (pathbuf != NULL) {
+        /*
+         * This dummy fd usage silences the mktemp() insecure warning.
+         * Using mkstemp() doesn't make things more secure here
+         * though.  bind() complains about existing files, so we have
+         * to unlink first and thus re-open the race window.  The
+         * worst case possible is bind() failing, i.e. a DoS attack.
+         */
+        fd = mkstemp(pathbuf);
+        if (fd < 0) {
+            error_setg_errno(errp, errno,
+                             "Failed to make a temporary socket %s", pathbuf);
+            goto err;
+        }
+        close(fd);
+    }
+
+    if (!abstract && unlink(path) < 0 && errno != ENOENT) {
+        error_setg_errno(errp, errno,
+                         "Failed to unlink socket %s", path);
+        goto err;
+    }
+
+    memset(&un, 0, sizeof(un));
+    un.sun_family = AF_UNIX;
+    addrlen = sizeof(un);
+
+    if (abstract) {
+        un.sun_path[0] = '\0';
+        memcpy(&un.sun_path[1], path, pathlen);
+        if (saddr_is_tight(saddr)) {
+            addrlen = offsetof(struct sockaddr_un, sun_path) + 1 + pathlen;
+        }
+    } else {
+        memcpy(un.sun_path, path, pathlen);
+    }
+
+    if (bind(sock, (struct sockaddr *) &un, addrlen) < 0) {
+        error_setg_errno(errp, errno, "Failed to bind socket to %s", path);
+        goto err;
+    }
+    if (listen(sock, num) < 0) {
+        error_setg_errno(errp, errno, "Failed to listen on socket");
+        goto err;
+    }
+
+    g_free(pathbuf);
+    return sock;
+
+err:
+    g_free(pathbuf);
+    close(sock);
+    return -1;
+}
+
+int unix_connect_saddr(UnixSocketAddress *saddr, Error **errp)
+{
+    bool abstract = saddr_is_abstract(saddr);
+    struct sockaddr_un un;
+    int sock, rc;
+    size_t pathlen;
+    size_t addrlen;
+
+    if (saddr->path == NULL) {
+        error_setg(errp, "unix connect: no path specified");
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    sock = qemu_socket(PF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+    if (sock < 0) {
+        error_setg_errno(errp, errno, "Failed to create socket");
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    pathlen = strlen(saddr->path);
+    if (pathlen > sizeof(un.sun_path) ||
+        (abstract && pathlen > (sizeof(un.sun_path) - 1))) {
+        error_setg(errp, "UNIX socket path '%s' is too long", saddr->path);
+        error_append_hint(errp, "Path must be less than %zu bytes\n",
+                          abstract ? sizeof(un.sun_path) - 1 :
+                          sizeof(un.sun_path));
+        goto err;
+    }
+
+    memset(&un, 0, sizeof(un));
+    un.sun_family = AF_UNIX;
+    addrlen = sizeof(un);
+
+    if (abstract) {
+        un.sun_path[0] = '\0';
+        memcpy(&un.sun_path[1], saddr->path, pathlen);
+        if (saddr_is_tight(saddr)) {
+            addrlen = offsetof(struct sockaddr_un, sun_path) + 1 + pathlen;
+        }
+    } else {
+        memcpy(un.sun_path, saddr->path, pathlen);
+    }
+    /* connect to peer */
+    do {
+        rc = 0;
+        if (connect(sock, (struct sockaddr *) &un, addrlen) < 0) {
+            rc = -errno;
+        }
+    } while (rc == -EINTR);
+
+    if (rc < 0) {
+        error_setg_errno(errp, -rc, "Failed to connect to '%s'",
+                         saddr->path);
+        goto err;
+    }
+
+    return sock;
+
+ err:
+    close(sock);
+    return -1;
+}
+
+/* compatibility wrapper */
+int unix_listen(const char *str, Error **errp)
+{
+    UnixSocketAddress *saddr;
+    int sock;
+
+    saddr = g_new0(UnixSocketAddress, 1);
+    saddr->path = g_strdup(str);
+    sock = unix_listen_saddr(saddr, 1, errp);
+    qapi_free_UnixSocketAddress(saddr);
+    return sock;
+}
+
+int unix_connect(const char *path, Error **errp)
+{
+    UnixSocketAddress *saddr;
+    int sock;
+
+    saddr = g_new0(UnixSocketAddress, 1);
+    saddr->path = g_strdup(path);
+    sock = unix_connect_saddr(saddr, errp);
+    qapi_free_UnixSocketAddress(saddr);
+    return sock;
+}
diff --git a/util/meson.build b/util/meson.build
index 1adff96ebd..dbcfbc6542 100644
--- a/util/meson.build
+++ b/util/meson.build
@@ -87,7 +87,10 @@ if have_block or have_ga
   util_ss.add(files(f'coroutine-@coroutine_backend@.c'))
   util_ss.add(files('thread-pool.c', 'qemu-timer.c'))
 endif
-if have_block or have_ga or have_user
+if have_user
+  util_ss.add(files('unix-sockets.c'))
+endif
+if have_block or have_ga
   util_ss.add(files('qemu-sockets.c'))
 endif
 if have_block
