diff --git a/release/scripts/modules/bpy_extras/io_utils.py b/release/scripts/modules/bpy_extras/io_utils.py
index b1877a9d439..d1eb01a4f11 100644
--- a/release/scripts/modules/bpy_extras/io_utils.py
+++ b/release/scripts/modules/bpy_extras/io_utils.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 __all__ = (
     "ExportHelper",
     "ImportHelper",
+    "IOHelperOrientation",
     "axis_conversion",
     "axis_conversion_ensure",
     "create_derived_objects",
@@ -116,6 +117,40 @@ class ImportHelper:
         return _check_axis_conversion(self)
 
 
+class IOHelperOrientation:
+    def _update_axis_forward(self, context):
+        if self.axis_forward[-1] == self.axis_up[-1]:
+            self.axis_up = self.axis_up[0:-1] + 'XYZ'[('XYZ'.index(self.axis_up[-1]) + 1) % 3]
+    axis_forward = EnumProperty(
+            name="Forward",
+            items=(('X', "X Forward", ""),
+                   ('Y', "Y Forward", ""),
+                   ('Z', "Z Forward", ""),
+                   ('-X', "-X Forward", ""),
+                   ('-Y', "-Y Forward", ""),
+                   ('-Z', "-Z Forward", ""),
+                   ),
+            default='-Z',
+            update=_update_axis_forward,
+            )
+
+    def _update_axis_up(self, context):
+        if self.axis_up[-1] == self.axis_forward[-1]:
+            self.axis_forward = self.axis_forward[0:-1] + 'XYZ'[('XYZ'.index(self.axis_forward[-1]) + 1) % 3]
+    axis_up = EnumProperty(
+            name="Up",
+            items=(('X', "X Up", ""),
+                   ('Y', "Y Up", ""),
+                   ('Z', "Z Up", ""),
+                   ('-X', "-X Up", ""),
+                   ('-Y', "-Y Up", ""),
+                   ('-Z', "-Z Up", ""),
+                   ),
+            default='Y',
+            update=_update_axis_up,
+            )
+
+
 # Axis conversion function, not pretty LUT
 # use lookup table to convert between any axis
 _axis_convert_matrix = (