diff --git a/include/linux/key.h b/include/linux/key.h
index 4d189e5..cbf464a 100644
--- a/include/linux/key.h
+++ b/include/linux/key.h
@@ -177,6 +177,8 @@
 /*
  * kernel managed key type definition
  */
+typedef int (*request_key_actor_t)(struct key *key, struct key *authkey, const char *op);
+
 struct key_type {
 	/* name of the type */
 	const char *name;
@@ -218,6 +220,16 @@
 	 */
 	long (*read)(const struct key *key, char __user *buffer, size_t buflen);
 
+	/* handle request_key() for this type instead of invoking
+	 * /sbin/request-key (optional)
+	 * - key is the key to instantiate
+	 * - authkey is the authority to assume when instantiating this key
+	 * - op is the operation to be done, usually "create"
+	 * - the call must not return until the instantiation process has run
+	 *   its course
+	 */
+	request_key_actor_t request_key;
+
 	/* internal fields */
 	struct list_head	link;		/* link in types list */
 };
diff --git a/include/linux/keyctl.h b/include/linux/keyctl.h
index ec8f3d6..3365945 100644
--- a/include/linux/keyctl.h
+++ b/include/linux/keyctl.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #define KEY_SPEC_USER_KEYRING		-4	/* - key ID for UID-specific keyring */
 #define KEY_SPEC_USER_SESSION_KEYRING	-5	/* - key ID for UID-session keyring */
 #define KEY_SPEC_GROUP_KEYRING		-6	/* - key ID for GID-specific keyring */
+#define KEY_SPEC_REQKEY_AUTH_KEY	-7	/* - key ID for assumed request_key auth key */
 
 /* request-key default keyrings */
 #define KEY_REQKEY_DEFL_NO_CHANGE		-1
@@ -47,5 +48,6 @@
 #define KEYCTL_NEGATE			13	/* negate a partially constructed key */
 #define KEYCTL_SET_REQKEY_KEYRING	14	/* set default request-key keyring */
 #define KEYCTL_SET_TIMEOUT		15	/* set key timeout */
+#define KEYCTL_ASSUME_AUTHORITY		16	/* assume request_key() authorisation */
 
 #endif /*  _LINUX_KEYCTL_H */
diff --git a/include/linux/sched.h b/include/linux/sched.h
index 20bd707..78eb92a 100644
--- a/include/linux/sched.h
+++ b/include/linux/sched.h
@@ -771,6 +771,7 @@
 	unsigned keep_capabilities:1;
 	struct user_struct *user;
 #ifdef CONFIG_KEYS
+	struct key *request_key_auth;	/* assumed request_key authority */
 	struct key *thread_keyring;	/* keyring private to this thread */
 	unsigned char jit_keyring;	/* default keyring to attach requested keys to */
 #endif