diff --git a/scripts/_common.sh b/scripts/_common.sh
index 63b4dd2..74869b1 100644
--- a/scripts/_common.sh
+++ b/scripts/_common.sh
@@ -173,3 +173,26 @@ EOF
 
 	chmod +x "/etc/cron.daily/node_update"
 }
+
+# EXEC_LOGIN_AS Helper
+
+# Execute a command as another user with login
+# (hence in user home dir, with prior loading of .profile, etc.)
+# usage: exec_login_as USER COMMAND [ARG ...]
+exec_login_as() {
+  local user=$1
+  shift 1
+  exec_as $user --login "$@"
+}
+# Execute a command as another user
+# usage: exec_as USER COMMAND [ARG ...]
+exec_as() {
+  local user=$1
+  shift 1
+
+  if [[ $user = $(whoami) ]]; then
+    eval "$@"
+  else
+    sudo -u "$user" "$@"
+  fi
+}