diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 339f2ee4..ec6d9b8e 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ Noteworthy changes in version 1.17.2 (unreleased)
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  cpp: RevocationReason                      NEW.
  cpp: GpgRevokeKeyEditInteractor            NEW.
+ cpp: Result::setError                      NEW.
  qt: RevokeKeyJob                           NEW.
  qt: Protocol::revokeKeyJob                 NEW.
 
diff --git a/lang/cpp/src/result.h b/lang/cpp/src/result.h
index 5ed52a89..a587afbe 100644
--- a/lang/cpp/src/result.h
+++ b/lang/cpp/src/result.h
@@ -50,6 +50,14 @@ public:
     {
         return mError;
     }
+    /**
+     * Replaces the error set during construction with \p error.
+     * Use with care, e.g. to set a more suitable error.
+     */
+    void setError(const Error &error)
+    {
+        mError = error;
+    }
 
 protected:
     Error mError;