diff --git a/modules/module-list.nix b/modules/module-list.nix
index 39b1bb325b64..e644a9bb77d6 100644
--- a/modules/module-list.nix
+++ b/modules/module-list.nix
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
   ./programs/pwdutils/pwdutils.nix
   ./programs/ssh.nix
   ./programs/ssmtp.nix
+  ./rename.nix
   ./security/consolekit.nix
   ./security/pam.nix
   ./security/policykit.nix
diff --git a/modules/rename.nix b/modules/rename.nix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..777b95cc9775
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/rename.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{pkgs, options, config, ...}:
+
+
+let
+  to = throw "This is just a dummy keyword";
+  alias = { name = "Alias"; };
+  obsolete = { name = "Obsolete name"; };
+
+  zipModules = list: with pkgs.lib;
+    zip (n: v:
+      if tail v != [] then zipModules v else head v
+    ) list;
+
+  rename = fromStatus: from: keyword: to: with pkgs.lib;
+    let
+      setTo = setAttrByPath (splitString "." to);
+      setFrom = setAttrByPath (splitString "." from);
+      toOf = attrByPath (splitString "." to) (abort "bad renaming");
+      fromOf = attrByPath (splitString "." from) (abort "IE: renaming error");
+    in
+      [{
+        options = setFrom (mkOption {
+          description = "${fromStatus.name} of <option>${to}</option>.";
+          apply = x: toOf config;
+        });
+      }] ++
+      [{
+        options = setTo (mkOption {
+          extraConfigs = map (def: def.value) (fromOf options).definitions;
+        });
+      }];
+
+in zipModules ([]
+
+# usage example:
+# ++ rename alias "services.xserver.slim.theme" to "services.xserver.displayManager.slim.theme"
+# ++ rename obsolete "environment.extraPackages" to "environment.systemPackages"
+
+
+
+) # do not add renaming after this.