diff --git a/api.c b/api.c
index 042ea422..55b6138a 100644
--- a/api.c
+++ b/api.c
@@ -316,6 +316,11 @@ static void cb(uev_t *w, void *UNUSED(arg), int UNUSED(events))
 			result = do_handle_emit(rq.data, sizeof(rq.data));
 			break;
 
+		case INIT_CMD_GET_RUNLEVEL:
+			rq.runlevel = runlevel;
+			result = 0;
+			break;
+
 		case INIT_CMD_ACK:
 			_d("Client failed reading ACK.");
 			goto leave;
diff --git a/finit.h b/finit.h
index 512b8b11..21df1b65 100644
--- a/finit.h
+++ b/finit.h
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 #define INIT_CMD_RESTART_SVC    7    /* STOP + START service */
 #define INIT_CMD_QUERY_INETD    8
 #define INIT_CMD_EMIT           9
+#define INIT_CMD_GET_RUNLEVEL   10
 #define INIT_CMD_NACK           254
 #define INIT_CMD_ACK            255
 
diff --git a/helpers.c b/helpers.c
index 6bae592f..4eeeed50 100644
--- a/helpers.c
+++ b/helpers.c
@@ -58,23 +58,6 @@ void runlevel_set(int pre, int now)
 	endutent();
 }
 
-int runlevel_get(void)
-{
-	int lvl = '?';		/* Non-existing runlevel */
-	struct utmp *utent;
-
-	setutent();
-	while ((utent = getutent())) {
-		if (utent->ut_type == RUN_LVL) {
-			lvl = utent->ut_pid & 0xFF;
-			break;
-		}
-	}
-	endutent();
-
-	return lvl - '0';
-}
-
 /**
  * runlevel_string - Convert a bit encoded runlevel to .conf syntax
  * @levels: Bit encoded runlevels
diff --git a/helpers.h b/helpers.h
index 616ad77e..82cac7d5 100644
--- a/helpers.h
+++ b/helpers.h
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ do {								\
 #define  _pe(fmt, args...) do {              fprintf(stderr, "finit:%s:%s() - " fmt ". Error %d: %s\n", __FILE__, __func__, ##args, errno, strerror(errno)); } while (0)
 
 void    runlevel_set    (int pre, int now);
-int     runlevel_get    (void);
 char   *runlevel_string (int levels);
 
 int     pid_alive       (pid_t pid);
diff --git a/initctl.c b/initctl.c
index 160fe7f2..c45343a8 100644
--- a/initctl.c
+++ b/initctl.c
@@ -75,6 +75,42 @@ exit:
 	return result;
 }
 
+static int runlevel_get(void)
+{
+	struct init_request rq;
+	int sd, result = 255;
+
+	rq.cmd = INIT_CMD_GET_RUNLEVEL;
+	rq.magic = INIT_MAGIC;
+
+	struct sockaddr_un sun = {
+		.sun_family = AF_UNIX,
+		.sun_path   = INIT_SOCKET,
+	};
+
+	sd = socket(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+	if (-1 == sd)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (connect(sd, (struct sockaddr*)&sun, sizeof(sun)) == -1)
+		goto error;
+
+	if (write(sd, &rq, sizeof(rq)) != sizeof(rq))
+		goto error;
+
+	if (read(sd, &rq, sizeof(rq)) != sizeof(rq))
+		goto error;
+
+	result = rq.runlevel;
+	goto exit;
+error:
+	perror("Failed communicating with finit");
+	result = -1;
+exit:
+	close(sd);
+	return result;
+}
+
 static int toggle_debug(char *UNUSED(arg))
 {
 	struct init_request rq = {