diff --git a/fips.go b/fips.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..01ed2fb57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fips.go
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package notary
+
+import "os"
+
+// FIPSEnvVar is the name of the environment variable that is being used to switch
+// between FIPS and non-FIPS mode
+const FIPSEnvVar = "GOFIPS"
+
+// FIPSEnabled returns true if environment variable `GOFIPS` has been set to enable
+// FIPS mode
+func FIPSEnabled() bool {
+	return os.Getenv(FIPSEnvVar) != ""
+}