diff --git a/swh/scheduler/utils.py b/swh/scheduler/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7f0be87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/swh/scheduler/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2017  The Software Heritage developers
+# See the AUTHORS file at the top-level directory of this distribution
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def get_task(task_name):
+    """Retrieve task object in our application instance by its fully
+    qualified python name.
+
+    Args:
+        task_name (str): task's name (e.g
+                         swh.loader.git.tasks.LoadDiskGitRepository)
+
+    Returns:
+        Instance of task
+
+    """
+    from swh.scheduler.celery_backend.config import app
+    for module in app.conf.CELERY_IMPORTS:
+        __import__(module)
+    return app.tasks[task_name]