diff --git a/python/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.sip b/python/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.sip
index d14a311b9c7..c2f685527c5 100644
--- a/python/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.sip
+++ b/python/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.sip
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ class QgsDataItemProviderRegistry
     //! Get list of available providers
     QList<QgsDataItemProvider*> providers() const;
 
+    //! Add a provider implementation. Takes ownership of the object.
+    void addProvider( QgsDataItemProvider* provider /Transfer/ );
+
+    //! Remove provider implementation from the list (provider object is deleted)
+    void removeProvider( QgsDataItemProvider* provider );
+
   private:
     QgsDataItemProviderRegistry();
 
diff --git a/src/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.cpp b/src/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.cpp
index 35c07f3c936..50849ef2441 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.cpp
@@ -84,3 +84,14 @@ QgsDataItemProviderRegistry::~QgsDataItemProviderRegistry()
   qDeleteAll( mProviders );
 }
 
+void QgsDataItemProviderRegistry::addProvider( QgsDataItemProvider* provider )
+{
+  mProviders.append( provider );
+}
+
+void QgsDataItemProviderRegistry::removeProvider( QgsDataItemProvider* provider )
+{
+  int index = mProviders.indexOf( provider );
+  if ( index >= 0 )
+    delete mProviders.takeAt( index );
+}
diff --git a/src/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.h b/src/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.h
index edcd6546c71..9ac92fff435 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.h
+++ b/src/core/qgsdataitemproviderregistry.h
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsDataItemProviderRegistry : public QgsSingleton<QgsDataItemP
     //! Get list of available providers
     QList<QgsDataItemProvider*> providers() const { return mProviders; }
 
+    //! Add a provider implementation. Takes ownership of the object.
+    void addProvider( QgsDataItemProvider* provider );
+
+    //! Remove provider implementation from the list (provider object is deleted)
+    void removeProvider( QgsDataItemProvider* provider );
+
   private:
     QgsDataItemProviderRegistry();