diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsDObjectMgr.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsDObjectMgr.java
index 32c7dc5c6..a7e4d5b26 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsDObjectMgr.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsDObjectMgr.java
@@ -275,6 +275,30 @@ public class PresentsDObjectMgr
         return Thread.currentThread() == _dobjThread;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Ensures that the calling thread is the distributed object event dispatch thread, throwing an
+     * {@link IllegalStateException} if it is not.
+     */
+    public void requireEventThread ()
+    {
+        if (!isDispatchThread()) {
+            String errmsg = "This method must be called on the dobj event thread.";
+            throw new IllegalStateException(errmsg);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Ensures that the calling thread <em>is not</em> the distributed object event dispatch
+     * thread, throwing an {@link IllegalStateException} if it is.
+     */
+    public void refuseEventThread ()
+    {
+        if (isDispatchThread()) {
+            String errmsg = "This method must not be called on the dobj event thread.";
+            throw new IllegalStateException(errmsg);
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Runs the dobjmgr event loop until it is requested to exit. This should be called from the
      * main application thread.