diff --git a/src/base/snark0.ml b/src/base/snark0.ml
index 9521fad9f..473b7117a 100644
--- a/src/base/snark0.ml
+++ b/src/base/snark0.ml
@@ -1393,6 +1393,41 @@ module Run = struct
       in
       { run_circuit; finish_computation }
 
+    (* start an as_prover / exists block and return a function to finish it and witness a given list of fields *)
+    let as_prover_manual (size_to_witness : int) :
+        (field array option -> Field.t array) Staged.t =
+      let s = !state in
+      let old_as_prover = Run_state.as_prover s in
+      (* enter the as_prover block *)
+      Run_state.set_as_prover s true ;
+
+      let finish_computation (values_to_witness : field array option) =
+        (* leave the as_prover block *)
+        Run_state.set_as_prover s old_as_prover ;
+
+        (* return variables *)
+        match (Run_state.has_witness s, values_to_witness) with
+        (* in compile mode, we return empty vars *)
+        | false, None ->
+            Core_kernel.Array.init size_to_witness ~f:(fun _ ->
+                Run_state.alloc_var s () )
+        (* in prover mode, we expect values to turn into vars *)
+        | true, Some values_to_witness ->
+            let store_value =
+              (* If we're nested in a prover block, create constants instead of
+                 storing. *)
+              if old_as_prover then Field.constant
+              else Run_state.store_field_elt s
+            in
+            Core_kernel.Array.map values_to_witness ~f:store_value
+        (* the other cases are invalid *)
+        | false, Some _ ->
+            failwith "Did not expect values to witness"
+        | true, None ->
+            failwith "Expected values to witness"
+      in
+      Staged.stage finish_computation
+
     let run_unchecked x =
       finalize_is_running (fun () ->
           Perform.run_unchecked ~run:as_stateful (fun () -> mark_active ~f:x) )
diff --git a/src/base/snark_intf.ml b/src/base/snark_intf.ml
index 777ef6c66..a6416ca31 100644
--- a/src/base/snark_intf.ml
+++ b/src/base/snark_intf.ml
@@ -1402,6 +1402,9 @@ module type Run_basic = sig
        , Proof_inputs.t * 'return_value )
        manual_callbacks
 
+  (* Callback, low-level version of [as_prover] and [exists]. *)
+  val as_prover_manual : int -> (field array option -> Field.t array) Staged.t
+
   (** Generate the public input vector for a given statement. *)
   val generate_public_input :
     ('input_var, 'input_value) Typ.t -> 'input_value -> Field.Constant.Vector.t