diff --git a/src/MatrixTools.js b/src/MatrixTools.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fa9f038b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MatrixTools.js
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+var MatrixClientPeg = require('./MatrixClientPeg');
+
+module.exports = {
+    /**
+     * Given a room object, return the canonical alias for it
+     * if there is one. Otherwise return null;
+     */
+    getCanonicalAliasForRoom: function(room) {
+        var aliasEvents = room.currentState.getStateEvents(
+            "m.room.aliases"
+        );
+        // Canonical aliases aren't implemented yet, so just return the first
+        for (var j = 0; j < aliasEvents.length; j++) {
+            var aliases = aliasEvents[j].getContent().aliases;
+            if (aliases && aliases.length) {
+                return aliases[0];
+            }
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+}
+