diff --git a/db/c.cc b/db/c.cc
index 36ee2d486..68f361336 100644
--- a/db/c.cc
+++ b/db/c.cc
@@ -788,6 +788,10 @@ void rocksdb_env_set_background_threads(rocksdb_env_t* env, int n) {
   env->rep->SetBackgroundThreads(n);
 }
 
+void rocksdb_env_set_high_priority_background_threads(rocksdb_env_t* env, int n) {
+  env->rep->SetBackgroundThreads(n, Env::HIGH);
+}
+
 void rocksdb_env_destroy(rocksdb_env_t* env) {
   if (!env->is_default) delete env->rep;
   delete env;
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/c.h b/include/rocksdb/c.h
index a3b18084a..bd22e191b 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/c.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/c.h
@@ -311,6 +311,7 @@ extern void rocksdb_cache_destroy(rocksdb_cache_t* cache);
 
 extern rocksdb_env_t* rocksdb_create_default_env();
 extern void rocksdb_env_set_background_threads(rocksdb_env_t* env, int n);
+extern void rocksdb_env_set_high_priority_background_threads(rocksdb_env_t* env, int n);
 extern void rocksdb_env_destroy(rocksdb_env_t*);
 
 /* Universal Compaction options */