diff --git a/libobs/obs-internal.h b/libobs/obs-internal.h
index 40e3403a3..2be6809d2 100644
--- a/libobs/obs-internal.h
+++ b/libobs/obs-internal.h
@@ -371,6 +371,8 @@ extern struct obs_core *obs;
 
 extern void *obs_video_thread(void *param);
 
+extern gs_effect_t *obs_load_effect(gs_effect_t **effect, const char *file);
+
 extern bool audio_callback(void *param,
 		uint64_t start_ts_in, uint64_t end_ts_in, uint64_t *out_ts,
 		uint32_t mixers, struct audio_output_data *mixes);
diff --git a/libobs/obs.c b/libobs/obs.c
index 966f2d96f..664176313 100644
--- a/libobs/obs.c
+++ b/libobs/obs.c
@@ -215,6 +215,17 @@ static bool obs_init_textures(struct obs_video_info *ovi)
 	return true;
 }
 
+gs_effect_t *obs_load_effect(gs_effect_t **effect, const char *file)
+{
+	if (!*effect) {
+		char *filename = find_libobs_data_file(file);
+		*effect = gs_effect_create_from_file(filename, NULL);
+		bfree(filename);
+	}
+
+	return *effect;
+}
+
 static int obs_init_graphics(struct obs_video_info *ovi)
 {
 	struct obs_core_video *video = &obs->video;