diff --git a/scripts/modules/bpy_extras/node_utils.py b/scripts/modules/bpy_extras/node_utils.py
index 3fec65db5a5..52edc5d5188 100644
--- a/scripts/modules/bpy_extras/node_utils.py
+++ b/scripts/modules/bpy_extras/node_utils.py
@@ -1,10 +1,49 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
 
 __all__ = (
+    "connect_virtual_socket",
     "find_node_input",
 )
 
 
+def connect_sockets(input, output):
+    """
+    Connect sockets in a node tree.
+
+    This is useful because the links created through the normal Python API are
+    invalid when one of the sockets is a virtual socket (grayed out sockets in
+    Group Input and Group Output nodes).
+
+    It replaces node_tree.links.new(input, output)
+    """
+    import bpy
+
+    # Swap sockets if they are not passed in the proper order
+    if input.is_output and not output.is_output:
+        input, output = output, input
+
+    input_node = output.node
+    output_node = input.node
+
+    if input_node.id_data is not output_node.id_data:
+        print("Sockets do not belong to the same node tree")
+        return
+
+    if type(input) == type(output) == bpy.types.NodeSocketVirtual:
+        print("Cannot connect two virtual sockets together")
+        return
+
+    if output_node.type == 'GROUP_OUTPUT' and type(input) == bpy.types.NodeSocketVirtual:
+        output_node.id_data.outputs.new(type(output).__name__, output.name)
+        input = output_node.inputs[-2]
+
+    if input_node.type == 'GROUP_INPUT' and type(output) == bpy.types.NodeSocketVirtual:
+        output_node.id_data.inputs.new(type(input).__name__, input.name)
+        output = input_node.outputs[-2]
+
+    return input_node.id_data.links.new(input, output)
+
+
 # XXX Names are not unique. Returns the first match.
 def find_node_input(node, name):
     for input in node.inputs: