diff --git a/runtime/lib/runtime.rb b/runtime/lib/runtime.rb
index 7524aa1..2efec0f 100644
--- a/runtime/lib/runtime.rb
+++ b/runtime/lib/runtime.rb
@@ -35,6 +35,22 @@ module Runtime
       path
     end
 
+    # Find and read a runtime file.
+    #
+    # @param type [Symbol]
+    #   Type of runtime file to find. See {#find} for available types.
+    # @param name [String]
+    #   Name of the runtime file to locate.
+    #
+    # @return [String]
+    #   Contents of the runtime file, or +nil+ if not found.
+    def read(type, name)
+      path = find(type, name)
+      if path
+        File.read(path, mode: "rb")
+      end
+    end
+
     private
 
     # Return the default runtime paths.