diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/configuration.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/configuration.py
index 7187a67f8ef..0f24c1f8263 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/configuration.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/configuration.py
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@ and configuration settings.
 
 from galaxy.web import _future_expose_api_anonymous_and_sessionless as expose_api_anonymous_and_sessionless
 from galaxy.web import _future_expose_api as expose_api
+from galaxy.web import _future_expose_api as expose_api_anonymous
 from galaxy.web import require_admin
 from galaxy.web.base.controller import BaseAPIController
-from galaxy.managers import configuration
+from galaxy.managers import configuration, users
 from galaxy.queue_worker import send_control_task
 
 import logging
@@ -20,6 +21,19 @@ class ConfigurationController( BaseAPIController ):
         super( ConfigurationController, self ).__init__( app )
         self.config_serializer = configuration.ConfigSerializer( app )
         self.admin_config_serializer = configuration.AdminConfigSerializer( app )
+        self.user_manager = users.UserManager( app )
+
+    @expose_api_anonymous
+    def whoami( self, trans, **kwd ):
+        """
+        GET /api/whoami
+        Return information about the current authenticated user.
+
+        :returns: dictionary with user information
+        :rtype:   dict
+        """
+        current_user = self.user_manager.current_user( trans )
+        return current_user.to_dict()
 
     @expose_api_anonymous_and_sessionless
     def index( self, trans, **kwd ):
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/buildapp.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/buildapp.py
index 3c47b47bd28..c56bb38ce61 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/buildapp.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/buildapp.py
@@ -309,6 +309,10 @@ def populate_api_routes( webapp, app ):
     webapp.mapper.connect( "configuration_version",
                            "/api/version", controller="configuration",
                            action="version", conditions=dict( method=[ "GET" ] ) )
+    webapp.mapper.connect( "api_whoami",
+                           "/api/whoami", controller='configuration',
+                           action='whoami',
+                           conditions=dict( method=[ "GET" ] ) )
     webapp.mapper.resource( 'datatype',
                             'datatypes',
                             path_prefix='/api',