diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_vfs.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_vfs.inc.php
index 82fc1cd4fa..6c1eb45dc3 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_vfs.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_vfs.inc.php
@@ -227,6 +227,17 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 		return $path[0] == '/' && is_link(self::PREFIX.$path);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * file_exists() version working only inside the vfs
+	 *
+	 * @param string $path
+	 * @return boolean
+	 */
+	static function file_exists($path)
+	{
+		return $path[0] == '/' && file_exists(self::PREFIX.$path);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Mounts $url under $path in the vfs, called without parameter it returns the fstab
 	 *