diff --git a/core/includes/update.inc b/core/includes/update.inc
index 1a2a242..7bce4f4 100644
--- a/core/includes/update.inc
+++ b/core/includes/update.inc
@@ -850,6 +850,37 @@ function update_retrieve_dependencies() {
 }
 
 /**
+ * Provide a generalised method to migrate variables from Drupal 7 to Drupal 8's
+ * configuration management system.
+ *
+ * @param $config_name
+ *   The name of the configuration object to retrieve. 
+ */
+function update_variables_to_config($config_name) {
+  $var_names = array_keys(config($config_name)->get());
+  if (!empty($var_names)) {
+    // Get any variables currently defined that match the new setting names in
+    // the config file.
+    $query = db_select('variable', 'v')
+      ->fields('v')
+      ->condition('name', $var_names, 'IN');
+    $var_values = $query->execute()->fetchAllKeyed(0);
+    $config = config($config_name);
+    // Update the config system settings to use the values previously stored in
+    // the variable table.
+    foreach($var_values as $name => $val) {
+      $config->set($name, $val);
+    }
+    $config->save();
+    // Delete the old variables. The config system will throw an exception if a
+    // value cannot be saved, so this code will not run if there is a problem
+    // running the update.
+    $del = db_delete('variable')->condition('name', $var_names, 'IN');
+    $del->execute();
+  }
+}
+
+/**
  * @defgroup update-api-7.x-to-8.x Update versions of API functions
  * @{
  * Functions similar to normal API function but not firing hooks.