diff --git a/list-objects-filter.c b/list-objects-filter.c
index c912ff3079..6a2e9d5b24 100644
--- a/list-objects-filter.c
+++ b/list-objects-filter.c
@@ -828,3 +828,48 @@ void list_objects_filter__free(struct filter *filter)
 	filter->free_fn(filter->filter_data);
 	free(filter);
 }
+
+/*
+ * NEEDSWORK: this reimplements the blob:limit size check rather than
+ * reusing the existing filter machinery in
+ * list_objects_filter__filter_object(). That machinery is currently
+ * tied to the object-walk path and cannot easily be driven from a
+ * plain oidset. It would be nice to refactor the filter code so this
+ * helper can reuse it instead of duplicating the size check.
+ */
+int list_objects_filter__filter_oidset(struct repository *r,
+	struct list_objects_filter_options *opts,
+	const struct oidset *in,
+	struct oidset *omitted)
+{
+	struct oidset_iter iter;
+	const struct object_id *oid;
+
+	if (opts->choice != LOFC_BLOB_LIMIT)
+		return error(_("filter_oidset: only blob:limit filters are supported"));
+
+	oidset_iter_init(in, &iter);
+	while ((oid = oidset_iter_next(&iter))) {
+		struct object_info info = OBJECT_INFO_INIT;
+		enum object_type type;
+		unsigned long size;
+
+		info.typep = &type;
+		info.sizep = &size;
+
+		/*
+		 * Use OBJECT_INFO_SKIP_FETCH_OBJECT to avoid triggering
+		 * a lazy fetch while inspecting candidates for removal.
+		 */
+		if (odb_read_object_info_extended(r->objects, oid, &info,
+				OBJECT_INFO_SKIP_FETCH_OBJECT) < 0)
+			continue;
+
+		if (type != OBJ_BLOB)
+			continue;
+
+		if (size >= opts->blob_limit_value)
+			oidset_insert(omitted, oid);
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/list-objects-filter.h b/list-objects-filter.h
index 9e98814111..56a2d87aa0 100644
--- a/list-objects-filter.h
+++ b/list-objects-filter.h
@@ -94,4 +94,20 @@ enum list_objects_filter_result list_objects_filter__filter_object(
  */
 void list_objects_filter__free(struct filter *filter);
 
+/*
+ * Given a set of OIDs in 'in', populate 'omitted' with those that
+ * would be filtered by 'opts'. Currently only blob:limit=N is
+ * supported. Objects that cannot be read are silently skipped.
+ *
+ * NEEDSWORK: this reimplements the blob:limit size check rather than
+ * reusing the existing filter machinery. See the matching comment in
+ * list-objects-filter.c.
+ *
+ * Return 0 on success, -1 if the filter is not supported.
+ */
+int list_objects_filter__filter_oidset(struct repository *r,
+	struct list_objects_filter_options *opts,
+	const struct oidset *in,
+	struct oidset *omitted);
+
 #endif /* LIST_OBJECTS_FILTER_H */