diff --git a/boot/bootutil/include/bootutil/bootutil_public.h b/boot/bootutil/include/bootutil/bootutil_public.h
index a2bf9b2..90b1a1c 100644
--- a/boot/bootutil/include/bootutil/bootutil_public.h
+++ b/boot/bootutil/include/bootutil/bootutil_public.h
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #define H_BOOTUTIL_PUBLIC
 
 #include <inttypes.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <flash_map_backend/flash_map_backend.h>
 #include <mcuboot_config/mcuboot_config.h>
@@ -266,6 +267,33 @@
 boot_read_swap_state(const struct flash_area *fa,
                      struct boot_swap_state *state);
 
+/**
+ * @brief Set next image application slot by flash area pointer
+ *
+ * @param fa pointer to flash_area representing image to set for next boot;
+ * @param active should be true if @fa points to currently running image
+ *        slot, false otherwise;
+ * @param confirm confirms image; when @p active is true, this is considered
+ *        true, regardless of passed value.
+ *
+ * It is users responsibility to identify whether @p fa provided as parameter
+ * is currently running/active image and provide proper value to @p active.
+ * Failing to do so may render device non-upgradeable.
+ *
+ * Note that in multi-image setup running/active application is the one
+ * that is currently being executed by any MCU core, from the pair of
+ * slots dedicated to that MCU core. As confirming application currently
+ * running on a given slot should be, preferably, done after functional
+ * tests prove application to function correctly, it may not be a good idea
+ * to cross-confirm running images.
+ * An application should only confirm slots designated to MCU core it is
+ * running on.
+ *
+ * @return 0 on success; non-zero error code on failure.
+ */
+int
+boot_set_next(const struct flash_area *fa, bool active, bool confirm);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/boot/bootutil/src/bootutil_public.c b/boot/bootutil/src/bootutil_public.c
index e26cc09..464ebd9 100644
--- a/boot/bootutil/src/bootutil_public.c
+++ b/boot/bootutil/src/bootutil_public.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * Copyright (c) 2017-2019 Linaro LTD
  * Copyright (c) 2016-2019 JUUL Labs
  * Copyright (c) 2019-2021 Arm Limited
- * Copyright (c) 2020 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
+ * Copyright (c) 2020-2023 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
  *
  * Original license:
  *
@@ -458,6 +458,77 @@
     return BOOT_SWAP_TYPE_NONE;
 }
 
+int
+boot_set_next(const struct flash_area *fa, bool active, bool confirm)
+{
+    struct boot_swap_state slot_state;
+    int rc;
+
+    if (active) {
+        confirm = true;
+    }
+
+    rc = boot_read_swap_state(fa, &slot_state);
+    if (rc != 0) {
+        return rc;
+    }
+
+    switch (slot_state.magic) {
+    case BOOT_MAGIC_GOOD:
+        /* If non-active then swap already scheduled, else confirm needed.*/
+
+        if (active && slot_state.image_ok == BOOT_FLAG_UNSET) {
+            /* Intentionally do not check copy_done flag to be able to
+             * confirm a padded image which has been programmed using
+             * a programming interface.
+             */
+            rc = boot_write_image_ok(fa);
+        }
+
+        break;
+
+    case BOOT_MAGIC_UNSET:
+        if (!active) {
+            rc = boot_write_magic(fa);
+
+            if (rc == 0 && confirm) {
+                rc = boot_write_image_ok(fa);
+            }
+
+            if (rc == 0) {
+                uint8_t swap_type;
+
+                if (confirm) {
+                    swap_type = BOOT_SWAP_TYPE_PERM;
+                } else {
+                    swap_type = BOOT_SWAP_TYPE_TEST;
+                }
+                rc = boot_write_swap_info(fa, swap_type, 0);
+            }
+        }
+        break;
+
+    case BOOT_MAGIC_BAD:
+        if (active) {
+            rc = BOOT_EBADVECT;
+        } else {
+            /* The image slot is corrupt.  There is no way to recover, so erase the
+             * slot to allow future upgrades.
+             */
+            flash_area_erase(fa, 0, flash_area_get_size(fa));
+            rc = BOOT_EBADIMAGE;
+        }
+        break;
+
+    default:
+        /* Something is not OK, this should never happen */
+        assert(0);
+        rc = BOOT_EBADIMAGE;
+    }
+
+    return rc;
+}
+
 /*
  * This function is not used by the bootloader itself, but its required API
  * by external tooling like mcumgr.
@@ -486,8 +557,6 @@
 boot_set_pending_multi(int image_index, int permanent)
 {
     const struct flash_area *fap;
-    struct boot_swap_state state_secondary_slot;
-    uint8_t swap_type;
     int rc;
 
     rc = flash_area_open(FLASH_AREA_IMAGE_SECONDARY(image_index), &fap);
@@ -495,48 +564,8 @@
         return BOOT_EFLASH;
     }
 
-    rc = boot_read_swap_state(fap, &state_secondary_slot);
-    if (rc != 0) {
-        goto done;
-    }
+    rc = boot_set_next(fap, false, !(permanent == 0));
 
-    switch (state_secondary_slot.magic) {
-    case BOOT_MAGIC_GOOD:
-        /* Swap already scheduled. */
-        break;
-
-    case BOOT_MAGIC_UNSET:
-        rc = boot_write_magic(fap);
-
-        if (rc == 0 && permanent) {
-            rc = boot_write_image_ok(fap);
-        }
-
-        if (rc == 0) {
-            if (permanent) {
-                swap_type = BOOT_SWAP_TYPE_PERM;
-            } else {
-                swap_type = BOOT_SWAP_TYPE_TEST;
-            }
-            rc = boot_write_swap_info(fap, swap_type, 0);
-        }
-
-        break;
-
-    case BOOT_MAGIC_BAD:
-        /* The image slot is corrupt.  There is no way to recover, so erase the
-         * slot to allow future upgrades.
-         */
-        flash_area_erase(fap, 0, flash_area_get_size(fap));
-        rc = BOOT_EBADIMAGE;
-        break;
-
-    default:
-        assert(0);
-        rc = BOOT_EBADIMAGE;
-    }
-
-done:
     flash_area_close(fap);
     return rc;
 }
@@ -573,7 +602,6 @@
 boot_set_confirmed_multi(int image_index)
 {
     const struct flash_area *fap = NULL;
-    struct boot_swap_state state_primary_slot;
     int rc;
 
     rc = flash_area_open(FLASH_AREA_IMAGE_PRIMARY(image_index), &fap);
@@ -581,39 +609,8 @@
         return BOOT_EFLASH;
     }
 
-    rc = boot_read_swap_state(fap, &state_primary_slot);
-    if (rc != 0) {
-        goto done;
-    }
+    rc = boot_set_next(fap, true, true);
 
-    switch (state_primary_slot.magic) {
-    case BOOT_MAGIC_GOOD:
-        /* Confirm needed; proceed. */
-        break;
-
-    case BOOT_MAGIC_UNSET:
-        /* Already confirmed. */
-        goto done;
-
-    case BOOT_MAGIC_BAD:
-        /* Unexpected state. */
-        rc = BOOT_EBADVECT;
-        goto done;
-    }
-
-    /* Intentionally do not check copy_done flag
-     * so can confirm a padded image which was programed using a programing
-     * interface.
-     */
-
-    if (state_primary_slot.image_ok != BOOT_FLAG_UNSET) {
-        /* Already confirmed. */
-        goto done;
-    }
-
-    rc = boot_write_image_ok(fap);
-
-done:
     flash_area_close(fap);
     return rc;
 }