diff --git a/builtin/common/misc_helpers.lua b/builtin/common/misc_helpers.lua
index f7111680c..1c7ff3958 100644
--- a/builtin/common/misc_helpers.lua
+++ b/builtin/common/misc_helpers.lua
@@ -691,3 +691,35 @@ end
 function core.strip_colors(str)
 	return (str:gsub(ESCAPE_CHAR .. "%([bc]@[^)]+%)", ""))
 end
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Returns the exact coordinate of a pointed surface
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+function core.pointed_thing_to_face_pos(placer, pointed_thing)
+	local eye_offset_first = placer:get_eye_offset()
+	local node_pos = pointed_thing.under
+	local camera_pos = placer:get_pos()
+	local pos_off = vector.multiply(
+			vector.subtract(pointed_thing.above, node_pos), 0.5)
+	local look_dir = placer:get_look_dir()
+	local offset, nc
+	local oc = {}
+
+	for c, v in pairs(pos_off) do
+		if v == 0 then
+			oc[#oc + 1] = c
+		else
+			offset = v
+			nc = c
+		end
+	end
+	local fine_pos = {[nc] = node_pos[nc] + offset}
+	camera_pos.y = camera_pos.y + 1.625 + eye_offset_first.y / 10
+	local f = (node_pos[nc] + offset - camera_pos[nc]) / look_dir[nc]
+
+	for i = 1, #oc do
+		fine_pos[oc[i]] = camera_pos[oc[i]] + look_dir[oc[i]] * f
+	end
+	return fine_pos
+end
+
diff --git a/doc/client_lua_api.md b/doc/client_lua_api.md
index deb5bfb13..c9ccbeefa 100644
--- a/doc/client_lua_api.md
+++ b/doc/client_lua_api.md
@@ -752,6 +752,8 @@ Call these functions only at load time!
       extra arguments and return the result
 * `fgettext(string, ...)` : returns string
     * same as fgettext_ne(), but calls minetest.formspec_escape before returning result
+* `minetest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos(placer, pointed_thing)`: returns a position
+    * returns the exact position on the surface of a pointed node
 
 ### UI
 * `minetest.ui.minimap`
@@ -827,7 +829,7 @@ The following functions provide escape sequences:
     * Removes background colors added by `get_background_escape_sequence`.
 * `color.strip_colors(str)`
     * Removes all color escape sequences.
-	  
+
 `ColorString`
 -------------
 `#RGB` defines a color in hexadecimal format.
diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index 0ca3767f9..0d3f00c67 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -1939,6 +1939,8 @@ Helper functions
     * returns time with microsecond precision. May not return wall time.
 * `table.copy(table)`: returns a table
     * returns a deep copy of `table`
+* `minetest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos(placer, pointed_thing)`: returns a position
+    * returns the exact position on the surface of a pointed node
 
 `minetest` namespace reference
 ------------------------------