diff --git a/src/files.cpp b/src/files.cpp
index 61f00f3..e539a76 100644
--- a/src/files.cpp
+++ b/src/files.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <cstdlib>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <sstream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <string>
 
@@ -26,8 +28,10 @@ namespace FediBlock::files
 {
 
 using std::getenv;
+using std::ifstream;
 using std::runtime_error;
 using std::string;
+using std::stringstream;
 using std::uintmax_t;
 
 string _tmpdir;
@@ -82,4 +86,18 @@ fs::path get_datadir()
     throw runtime_error{"Could not find data dir"};
 }
 
+string get_access_token()
+{
+    ifstream file(get_datadir() / "gitea_access_token");
+    if (!file.good())
+    {
+        throw runtime_error{"Could not read access token: "
+                            + (get_datadir() / "gitea_access_token").string()};
+    }
+    stringstream ss;
+    ss << file.rdbuf();
+
+    return ss.str().substr(0, ss.str().find('\n'));
+}
+
 } // namespace FediBlock::files
diff --git a/src/files.hpp b/src/files.hpp
index f2d8fe3..d78136a 100644
--- a/src/files.hpp
+++ b/src/files.hpp
@@ -19,9 +19,13 @@
 
 #include "fs-compat.hpp"
 
+#include <string>
+
 namespace FediBlock::files
 {
 
+using std::string;
+
 // Creates and returns the temporary directory.
 [[nodiscard]] fs::path get_tmpdir();
 
@@ -31,6 +35,9 @@ void remove_tmpdir();
 // Returns the data directory and creates it if necessary.
 [[nodiscard]] fs::path get_datadir();
 
+// Read and return access token.
+[[nodiscard]] string get_access_token();
+
 } // namespace FediBlock::files
 
 #endif // FEDIBLOCK_BACKEND_FILES_HPP