diff --git a/core/global-io.cpp b/core/global-io.cpp
index bd73244..f03d13c 100644
--- a/core/global-io.cpp
+++ b/core/global-io.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 } // namespace scheduler
 
 static boost::thread_specific_ptr<boost::asio::io_service> g_ioService;
+static boost::asio::io_service* g_mainIoService = nullptr;
 static boost::asio::io_service* g_ribIoService = nullptr;
 
 boost::asio::io_service&
@@ -54,12 +55,25 @@
 }
 
 void
+setMainIoService(boost::asio::io_service* mainIo)
+{
+  g_mainIoService = mainIo;
+}
+
+void
 setRibIoService(boost::asio::io_service* ribIo)
 {
   g_ribIoService = ribIo;
 }
 
 boost::asio::io_service&
+getMainIoService()
+{
+  BOOST_ASSERT(g_mainIoService != nullptr);
+  return *g_mainIoService;
+}
+
+boost::asio::io_service&
 getRibIoService()
 {
   BOOST_ASSERT(g_ribIoService != nullptr);
@@ -67,6 +81,12 @@
 }
 
 void
+runOnMainIoService(const std::function<void()>& f)
+{
+  getMainIoService().post(f);
+}
+
+void
 runOnRibIoService(const std::function<void()>& f)
 {
   getRibIoService().post(f);
diff --git a/core/global-io.hpp b/core/global-io.hpp
index ab0e17c..0fb2fbe 100644
--- a/core/global-io.hpp
+++ b/core/global-io.hpp
@@ -35,14 +35,25 @@
 getGlobalIoService();
 
 void
+setMainIoService(boost::asio::io_service* mainIo);
+
+void
 setRibIoService(boost::asio::io_service* ribIo);
 
+/** \brief run a function on the main io_service instance
+ */
+void
+runOnMainIoService(const std::function<void()>& f);
+
 /** \brief run a function on the RIB io_service instance
  */
 void
 runOnRibIoService(const std::function<void()>& f);
 
 boost::asio::io_service&
+getMainIoService();
+
+boost::asio::io_service&
 getRibIoService();
 
 #ifdef WITH_TESTS