diff --git a/api/message/codec_manager.go b/api/message/codec_manager.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3104e0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/message/codec_manager.go
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package message
+
+import "fmt"
+
+var registry = map[string]Codec{}
+
+func RegisterCodec(name string, codec Codec) {
+	registry[name] = codec
+}
+
+func GetCodec(name string) (Codec, error) {
+	var err error
+	codec, ok := registry[name]
+	if !ok {
+		err = fmt.Errorf("no codec registered with name '%s'", name)
+	}
+	return codec, err
+}