diff --git a/includes/utilities.inc b/includes/utilities.inc
index 91988918..ffa0244b 100644
--- a/includes/utilities.inc
+++ b/includes/utilities.inc
@@ -912,3 +912,27 @@ function islandora_as_renderable_array(&$markup_array) {
   }
   unset($value);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Creates and returns a singleton of tuque if one does not already exist.
+ *
+ * @param  object $user
+ *   User who created the request.
+ * @param  object $url
+ *   URL to Fedora.
+ *
+ * @return IslandoraTuque
+ *   An IslandoraTuque instance.
+ */
+function islandora_make_tuque($user, $url) {
+  if (IslandoraTuque::exists()) {
+    try {
+      return new IslandoraTuque($user, $url);
+    }
+    catch (Exception $e) {
+      drupal_set_message(t('Unable to connect to the repository %e', array('%e' => $e)), 'error');
+    }
+  }
+
+  return NULL;
+}
diff --git a/tests/islandora_tuque.test b/tests/islandora_tuque.test
index 4d8f0041..13b5eff9 100644
--- a/tests/islandora_tuque.test
+++ b/tests/islandora_tuque.test
@@ -57,3 +57,94 @@ class IslandoraTuqueTestCase extends IslandoraWebTestCase {
   }
 
 }
+
+  /**
+   * Tests that tuque does not exist and the user is not null.
+   */
+  public function testTuqueDoesNotExistAndUserIsNotNull() {
+    $tuque = &drupal_static(__FUNCTION__);
+    $tuque = NULL;
+
+    $user_to_provide = user_load(0);
+
+    $new_tuque = islandora_get_tuque_connection($user_to_provide);
+    $new_tuque_user_name = $new_tuque->connection->username;
+
+    assertNotNull($new_tuque);
+    assertNotNull($tuque);
+    assertEqual($user_to_provide->name, $new_tuque_user_name);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Tests that tuque does not exist and the user is null.
+   */
+  public function testTuqueDoesNotExistAndUserIsNull() {
+    $tuque = &drupal_static(__FUNCTION__);
+    $tuque = NULL;
+
+    $user_to_provide = NULL;
+
+    $new_tuque = islandora_get_tuque_connection($user_to_provide);
+    $new_tuque_user_name = $new_tuque->connection->username;
+
+    global $user;
+
+    assertNotNull($new_tuque);
+    assertNotNull($tuque);
+    assertEqual($new_tuque_user_name, $user);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Test that tuque exists and the user is not null and the user is not tuque's
+   * user.
+   */
+  public function testTuqueExistsAndUserIsNotNullAndUserIsNotTuquesUser() {
+    $tuque = &drupal_static(__FUNCTION__);
+    $user_to_provide = user_load(0);
+    $new_tuque = islandora_get_tuque_connection($user_to_provide);
+
+    assertNotNull($new_tuque);
+    assertNotNull($tuque);
+    assertNotEqual($user_to_provide->name, $new_tuque->connection->username);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Tests that tuque exists and the user is not null and the user is tuque's user
+   */
+  public function testTuqueExistsAndUserIsNotNullAndUserIsTuquesUser() {
+    $tuque = &drupal_static(__FUNCTION__);
+    $new_tuque = islandora_get_tuque_connection($tuque->connection->username);
+
+    assertNotNull($new_tuque);
+    assertNotNull($tuque);
+    assertEqual($tuque->connection->username, $new_tuque->connection->username);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Tests that tuque exists and the user is null and the global user is not
+   * tuque's user.
+   */
+  public function testTuqueExistsAndUserIsNullAndGlobalUserIsNotTuquesUser() {
+    $tuque = &drupal_static(__FUNCTION__);
+    global $user = NULL;
+    $new_tuque = islandora_get_tuque_connection($user);
+
+    assertNotNull($new_tuque);
+    assertNotNull($tuque);
+    assertNotEqual($new_tuque->connection->username, $user);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Tests that tuque exists and the user is null and the global user is tuque's
+   * user.
+   */
+  public function testTuqueExistsAndUserIsNullAndGlobalUserIsTuquesUser() {
+    $tuque = &drupal_static(__FUNCTION__);
+    global $user = $tuque->connection->username;
+    $new_tuque = islandora_get_tuque_connection($user);
+
+    assertNotNull($new_tuque);
+    assertNotNull($tuque);
+    assertEqual($new_tuque->connection->username, $user);
+  }
+