diff --git a/pkgs/pkgs-lib/default.nix b/pkgs/pkgs-lib/default.nix
index 113dcebf8c68b..422128a033c2a 100644
--- a/pkgs/pkgs-lib/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/pkgs-lib/default.nix
@@ -7,5 +7,35 @@
   formats = import ./formats.nix {
     inherit lib pkgs;
   };
+
+  /*
+    Return attribute set of packages from overlay
+
+    Type: callOverlay :: (pkgs -> pkgs -> attrs) -> attrs
+
+    Example:
+      callOverlay (final: prev: { a = 42; })
+      => { a = 42 }
+  */
+  callOverlay = overlay:
+    let
+      newPkgs = overlay newPkgs pkgs // {
+        pkgs = newPkgs;
+        callPackage = pkgs.lib.callPackageWith newPkgs;
+      };
+    in
+    overlay newPkgs pkgs;
+
+  /*
+    Return attribute set of packages from overlays
+
+    Type: callOverlays :: [pkgs -> pkgs -> attrs] -> attrs
+
+    Example:
+      callOverlays [(final: prev: { a = 42; }) (final: prev: { b = 123; })]
+      => { a = 42; b = 123; }
+  */
+  callOverlays = overlays:
+    pkgs.callOverlay (lib.composeManyExtensions overlays);
 }
 
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index 08e69df5d53e3..821ef4f75cbfb 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -969,7 +969,7 @@ with pkgs;
   writers = callPackage ../build-support/writers {};
 
   # lib functions depending on pkgs
-  inherit (import ../pkgs-lib { inherit lib pkgs; }) formats;
+  inherit (import ../pkgs-lib { inherit lib pkgs; }) formats callOverlay callOverlays;
 
   testers = callPackage ../build-support/testers {};