diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRepository.java b/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRepository.java
index b24b6e4fa..7ee55bfbd 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRepository.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/persist/NodeRepository.java
@@ -90,6 +90,18 @@ public class NodeRepository extends DepotRepository
         return (conditions.isEmpty() ? query : query.where(conditions)).select();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns a list of nodes registered in the repository with the specified region that are not
+     * explicitly shut down.
+     */
+    public List<NodeRecord> loadNodesFromRegion (String region)
+    {
+        return from(NodeRecord.class)
+            .noCache()
+            .where(NodeRecord.REGION.eq(region), Ops.not(NodeRecord.SHUTDOWN))
+            .select();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Updates the supplied node record, inserting it into the database if necessary.
      */