diff --git a/include/proto/connection.h b/include/proto/connection.h
index 7205b2c..abc7e22 100644
--- a/include/proto/connection.h
+++ b/include/proto/connection.h
@@ -310,6 +310,67 @@
 	return (c->flags & (CO_FL_DATA_WR_SH | CO_FL_SOCK_WR_SH)) == CO_FL_DATA_WR_SH;
 }
 
+static inline void clear_target(struct target *dest)
+{
+	dest->type = TARG_TYPE_NONE;
+	dest->ptr.v = NULL;
+}
+
+static inline void set_target_client(struct target *dest, struct listener *l)
+{
+	dest->type = TARG_TYPE_CLIENT;
+	dest->ptr.l = l;
+}
+
+static inline void set_target_server(struct target *dest, struct server *s)
+{
+	dest->type = TARG_TYPE_SERVER;
+	dest->ptr.s = s;
+}
+
+static inline void set_target_proxy(struct target *dest, struct proxy *p)
+{
+	dest->type = TARG_TYPE_PROXY;
+	dest->ptr.p = p;
+}
+
+static inline void set_target_applet(struct target *dest, struct si_applet *a)
+{
+	dest->type = TARG_TYPE_APPLET;
+	dest->ptr.a = a;
+}
+
+static inline void set_target_task(struct target *dest, struct task *t)
+{
+	dest->type = TARG_TYPE_TASK;
+	dest->ptr.t = t;
+}
+
+static inline struct target *copy_target(struct target *dest, struct target *src)
+{
+	*dest = *src;
+	return dest;
+}
+
+static inline int target_match(struct target *a, struct target *b)
+{
+	return a->type == b->type && a->ptr.v == b->ptr.v;
+}
+
+static inline struct server *target_srv(struct target *t)
+{
+	if (!t || t->type != TARG_TYPE_SERVER)
+		return NULL;
+	return t->ptr.s;
+}
+
+static inline struct listener *target_client(struct target *t)
+{
+	if (!t || t->type != TARG_TYPE_CLIENT)
+		return NULL;
+	return t->ptr.l;
+}
+
 #endif /* _PROTO_CONNECTION_H */
 
 /*