diff --git a/mercurial/ui.py b/mercurial/ui.py
--- a/mercurial/ui.py
+++ b/mercurial/ui.py
@@ -545,6 +545,16 @@
 
         return main, sub
 
+    def configtyped(self, section, name, itemtype, default=_unset, untrusted=False):
+        """Get a config item as the given type."""
+        if itemtype is type(False) or itemtype is type(None):
+            return self.configbool(section, name, default, untrusted)
+        if itemtype is type(1):
+            return self.configint(section, name, default, untrusted)
+        if itemtype is type([]):
+            return self.configlist(section, name, default, untrusted)
+        return self.config(section, name, default, untrusted)
+
     def configpath(self, section, name, default=_unset, untrusted=False):
         'get a path config item, expanded relative to repo root or config file'
         v = self.config(section, name, default, untrusted)