diff --git a/khatru/utils.go b/khatru/utils.go
index b11f138..10b982d 100644
--- a/khatru/utils.go
+++ b/khatru/utils.go
@@ -74,6 +74,13 @@ func IsAuthed(ctx context.Context, pubkey nostr.PubKey) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+// ForceSetAuthed modifies the context to insert a custom authed public key.
+// It can be used in testing or other rare scenarios for making requests as if a given public key
+// was authenticated when in fact it didn't perform any of the authentication rituals.
+func ForceSetAuthed(ctx context.Context, pubkey nostr.PubKey) context.Context {
+	return context.WithValue(ctx, nip86HeaderAuthKey, pubkey)
+}
+
 // IsInternalCall returns true when a call to QueryEvents, for example, is being made because of a deletion
 // or expiration request.
 func IsInternalCall(ctx context.Context) bool {