diff --git a/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc b/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc
index 581dee319..45045c971 100644
--- a/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc
+++ b/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc
@@ -4153,6 +4153,31 @@ function interfaces_staticarp_configure($if)
     }
 }
 
+/* XXX this function is unused and to be removed on our way to 19.7 */
+function get_failover_interface($interface, $family = 'all')
+{
+    global $config;
+
+    /* shortcut for known interfaces */
+    if (isset($config['interfaces'][$interface])) {
+        return get_real_interface($interface, $family);
+    }
+
+    /* compare against gateway groups */
+    $a_groups = return_gateway_groups_array();
+    if (isset($a_groups[$interface])) {
+        /* we found a gateway group, fetch the interface or vip */
+        if ($a_groups[$interface][0]['vip'] != '') {
+            return $a_groups[$interface][0]['vip'];
+        } else {
+            return $a_groups[$interface][0]['int'];
+        }
+    }
+
+    /* fall through to get real interface the hard way */
+    return get_real_interface($interface, $family);
+}
+
 //returns interface information
 function get_interfaces_info()
 {