diff --git a/include/shell/shell.h b/include/shell/shell.h
index a8751d6e761..47087714954 100644
--- a/include/shell/shell.h
+++ b/include/shell/shell.h
@@ -585,6 +585,20 @@ bool shell_cmd_precheck(const struct shell *shell,
 void shell_print_stream(const void *user_ctx, const char *data,
 			size_t data_len);
 
+/** @brief Execute command.
+ *
+ * Pass command line to shell to execute.
+ *
+ * Note: This by no means makes any of the commands a stable interface, so
+ * this function should only be used for debugging/diagnostic.
+ *
+ * @param[in] shell	Pointer to the shell instance.
+ * @param[in] cmd	Command to be executed.
+ *
+ * @returns Result of the execution
+ */
+int shell_execute_cmd(const struct shell *shell, const char *cmd);
+
 /**
  * @}
  */
diff --git a/subsys/shell/shell.c b/subsys/shell/shell.c
index 980ad5c6965..172c740926e 100644
--- a/subsys/shell/shell.c
+++ b/subsys/shell/shell.c
@@ -1720,3 +1720,21 @@ bool shell_cmd_precheck(const struct shell *shell,
 
 	return true;
 }
+
+int shell_execute_cmd(const struct shell *shell, const char *cmd)
+{
+	u16_t cmd_len = shell_strlen(cmd);
+
+	if ((cmd == NULL) || (shell == NULL)) {
+		return -ENOEXEC;
+	}
+
+	if (cmd_len > (CONFIG_SHELL_CMD_BUFF_SIZE - 1)) {
+		return -ENOEXEC;
+	}
+
+	strcpy(shell->ctx->cmd_buff, cmd);
+	shell->ctx->cmd_buff_len = cmd_len;
+
+	return shell_execute(shell);
+}