diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/library/OPNsense/Mvc/Dispatcher.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/library/OPNsense/Mvc/Dispatcher.php
index 34591ad76..cd9d5e71a 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/library/OPNsense/Mvc/Dispatcher.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/library/OPNsense/Mvc/Dispatcher.php
@@ -59,6 +59,16 @@ class Dispatcher
         $this->parameters = $parameters;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * XXX: rename to getMethodName when phalcon is removed and return plain $this->action,
+     *      next cleanup ApiControllerBase.
+     * @return string action name
+     */
+    public function getActionName()
+    {
+        return substr($this->action,0, strlen($this->action)-6);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Resolve controller class and inspect method to call, except when the target controller offers a __call
      * hook in which case we expect the target to offer proper error handling