diff --git a/src/nix/meson.build b/src/nix/meson.build
index 6edb768e31c..9968a93421d 100644
--- a/src/nix/meson.build
+++ b/src/nix/meson.build
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ nix_sources = [config_h] + files(
   'run.cc',
   'search.cc',
   'sigs.cc',
+  'store-add-gc-root.cc',
   'store-copy-log.cc',
   'store-delete.cc',
   'store-gc.cc',
diff --git a/src/nix/store-add-gc-root.cc b/src/nix/store-add-gc-root.cc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a29cd2c0ca9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/store-add-gc-root.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#include "command.hh"
+#include "args.hh"
+#include "shared.hh"
+#include "store-cast.hh"
+#include "indirect-root-store.hh"
+#include "common-args.hh"
+
+using namespace nix;
+
+struct CmdAddGCRoot : StoreCommand
+{
+    std::vector<std::string> links;
+    bool checkResults = true;
+
+    CmdAddGCRoot()
+    {
+        expectArgs({
+            .label = "indirect-roots",
+            .handler = {&links},
+            .completer = completePath,
+        });
+
+        addFlag({
+            .longName = "no-check",
+            .description = "Do not test the validity of created roots.",
+            .handler = {&checkResults, false},
+        });
+    }
+
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "Add indirect gc roots through the symlink arguments";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+#include "store-add-gc-root.md"
+            ;
+    }
+
+    Category category() override
+    {
+        return catSecondary;
+    }
+
+    void run(ref<Store> store) override
+    {
+        auto & indirectRootStore = require<IndirectRootStore>(*store);
+
+        for (auto & link : links) {
+            auto indirectPath = absPath(link);
+            if (indirectRootStore.isInStore(indirectPath)) {
+                throw Error("Indirect root '%1%' must not be in the Nix store", link);
+            }
+
+            if (checkResults) {
+                auto path = indirectRootStore.followLinksToStorePath(indirectPath);
+                indirectRootStore.addTempRoot(path);
+                if (!indirectRootStore.isValidPath(path)) {
+                    throw Error("Indirect root '%1%' is no a symbolic link to a valid store path", link);
+                }
+            }
+
+            indirectRootStore.addIndirectRoot(indirectPath);
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+static auto rCmdAddGCRoot = registerCommand2<CmdAddGCRoot>({"store", "add-gc-root"});
diff --git a/src/nix/store-add-gc-root.md b/src/nix/store-add-gc-root.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cd4841fb8a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/store-add-gc-root.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+R""(
+
+# Examples
+
+  ```console
+  $ ln -s /nix/store/xxx foo
+  $ nix store add-gc-root foo
+  $ nix-store -q --roots /nix/store/xxx
+  .../foo -> /nix/store/xxx
+  ```
+
+# Description
+
+This command adds garbage collector root to the paths referenced by the symlinks passed as arguments.
+These are called indirect roots, as the root will disappear as soon as the intermediate symlink gets deleted.
+
+)""
diff --git a/tests/functional/local.mk b/tests/functional/local.mk
index 3f796291a56..344c10edd82 100644
--- a/tests/functional/local.mk
+++ b/tests/functional/local.mk
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ nix_tests = \
   nix-profile.sh \
   suggestions.sh \
   store-info.sh \
+  store-add-gc-root.sh \
   fetchClosure.sh \
   completions.sh \
   impure-derivations.sh \
diff --git a/tests/functional/meson.build b/tests/functional/meson.build
index 69b6d31949e..50562f3af37 100644
--- a/tests/functional/meson.build
+++ b/tests/functional/meson.build
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ suites = [
       'debugger.sh',
       'extra-sandbox-profile.sh',
       'help.sh',
+      'store-add-gc-root.sh',
     ],
     'workdir': meson.current_build_dir(),
   },
diff --git a/tests/functional/store-add-gc-root.sh b/tests/functional/store-add-gc-root.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..7b9185f5fca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/store-add-gc-root.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+source common.sh
+
+TODO_NixOS
+
+clearStore
+
+function delete() { nix-store --delete "$storePath"; }
+function build() { nix build --no-link --print-out-paths -f simple.nix; }
+
+# Check that path can be deleted
+storePath=$(build)
+delete
+
+# Check that add-gc-root prevents deletion,
+# and removing the root make it deletable again.
+storePath=$(build)
+ln -sn "$storePath" myroot
+nix store add-gc-root myroot
+if delete; then false; fi
+rm myroot
+delete
+
+# Create several roots at once
+storePath=$(build)
+ln -sn "$storePath" myroot1
+ln -sn "$storePath" myroot2
+ln -sn "$storePath" myroot3
+nix store add-gc-root myroot1 myroot2 myroot3
+if delete; then false; fi
+rm myroot3 myroot2
+if delete; then false; fi
+rm myroot1
+delete
+
+# Test detection of invalid roots
+# 1. path deleted before root creation
+storePath=$(build)
+delete
+ln -sn "$storePath" myroot
+if nix store add-gc-root myroot; then false; fi
+nix store add-gc-root --no-check myroot
+rm myroot
+
+# 2. invalid path
+ln -sn /invalid-target myroot
+if nix store add-gc-root myroot; then false; fi
+nix store add-gc-root --no-check myroot
+rm myroot
+
+# Fail when trying to setup a direct root
+storePath=$(build)
+if nix store add-gc-root "$storePath"; then false; fi
+