diff --git a/helpers/helpers.v2.1.d/utils b/helpers/helpers.v2.1.d/utils
index 4c611395d..aca976c54 100644
--- a/helpers/helpers.v2.1.d/utils
+++ b/helpers/helpers.v2.1.d/utils
@@ -377,3 +377,82 @@ ynh_user_get_info() {
 ynh_user_list() {
     yunohost user list --output-as json --quiet | jq -r ".users | keys[]"
 }
+
+# Spawn a Bash shell with the app environment loaded
+#
+# usage: ynh_spawn_app_shell "appname"
+#
+# examples:
+#   ynh_spawn_app_shell "foobar" <<< 'echo "$USER"'
+#   ynh_spawn_app_shell "foobar" < /tmp/some_script.bash
+#
+# The spawned shell will have environment variables loaded and environment files sourced
+# from the app's service configuration file (defaults to $app.service, overridable by the packager with `service` setting).
+# If the app relies on a specific PHP version, then `php` will be aliased that version. The PHP command will also be appended with the `phpflags` settings.
+ynh_spawn_app_shell() {
+        local app=$1
+
+        # Force Bash to be used to run this helper
+        [[ $0 =~ \/?bash$ ]] || ynh_die "Please use Bash as shell"
+
+        # Make sure the app is installed
+        test -d /etc/yunohost/apps/$app || ynh_die "$app is not an installed app ?!"
+
+        # Make sure the app has its own user
+        id -u "$app" &>/dev/null || ynh_die "There is no \"$app\" system user"
+
+        # Make sure the app has an install_dir setting
+        local install_dir=$(ynh_app_setting_get --app=$app --key=install_dir)
+        [ -n "$install_dir" ] || ynh_die "$app has no install_dir setting (does it use packaging format >=2?)"
+
+        # Load the app's service name, or default to $app
+        local service=$(ynh_app_setting_get --app=$app --key=service)
+        [ -z "$service" ] && service=$app;
+
+        # Export HOME variable
+        export HOME=$install_dir;
+
+        # Load the Environment variables from the app's service
+        local env_var=$(systemctl show $service.service -p "Environment" --value)
+        [ -n "$env_var" ] && export $env_var;
+
+        # Force `php` to its intended version
+        # We use `eval`+`export` since `alias` is not propagated to subshells, even with `export`
+        local phpversion=$(ynh_app_setting_get --app=$app --key=phpversion)
+        local phpflags=$(ynh_app_setting_get --app=$app --key=phpflags)
+        if [ -n "$phpversion" ]
+        then
+            eval "php() { php${phpversion} ${phpflags} \"\$@\"; }"
+            export -f php
+        fi
+
+        # Source the EnvironmentFiles from the app's service
+        local env_files=($(systemctl show $service.service -p "EnvironmentFiles" --value))
+        if [ ${#env_files[*]} -gt 0 ]
+        then
+            # set -/+a enables and disables new variables being automatically exported. Needed when using `source`.
+            set -a
+            for file in ${env_files[*]}
+            do
+                [[ $file = /* ]] && source $file
+            done
+            set +a
+        fi
+
+        # Activate the Python environment, if it exists
+        if [ -f $install_dir/venv/bin/activate ]
+        then
+            # set -/+a enables and disables new variables being automatically exported. Needed when using `source`.
+            set -a
+            source $install_dir/venv/bin/activate
+            set +a
+        fi
+
+        # cd into the WorkingDirectory set in the service, or default to the install_dir
+        local env_dir=$(systemctl show $service.service -p "WorkingDirectory" --value)
+        [ -z $env_dir ] && env_dir=$install_dir;
+        cd $env_dir
+
+        # Spawn the app shell
+        su -s /bin/bash $app
+}