diff --git a/course/lib.php b/course/lib.php
index 8a043f18cb8..e49bdf1cc84 100644
--- a/course/lib.php
+++ b/course/lib.php
@@ -3756,3 +3756,23 @@ function course_change_sortorder_after_course($courseorid, $moveaftercourseid) {
     cache_helper::purge_by_event('changesincourse');
     return true;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Trigger course viewed event. This API function is used when course view actions happens,
+ * usually in course/view.php but also in external functions.
+ *
+ * @param stdClass  $context course context object
+ * @param int $sectionnumber section number
+ * @since Moodle 2.9
+ */
+function course_view($context, $sectionnumber = 0) {
+
+    $eventdata = array('context' => $context);
+
+    if (!empty($sectionnumber)) {
+        $eventdata['other']['coursesectionnumber'] = $sectionnumber;
+    }
+
+    $event = \core\event\course_viewed::create($eventdata);
+    $event->trigger();
+}
diff --git a/course/view.php b/course/view.php
index f406a06b5e3..e15a0226b89 100644
--- a/course/view.php
+++ b/course/view.php
@@ -285,12 +285,7 @@
     // Trigger course viewed event.
     // We don't trust $context here. Course format inclusion above executes in the global space. We can't assume
     // anything after that point.
-    $eventdata = array('context' => context_course::instance($course->id));
-    if (!empty($section) && (int)$section == $section) {
-        $eventdata['other'] = array('coursesectionnumber' => $section);
-    }
-    $event = \core\event\course_viewed::create($eventdata);
-    $event->trigger();
+    course_view(context_course::instance($course->id), $section);
 
     // Include course AJAX
     include_course_ajax($course, $modnamesused);
diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index 5d5e0f74078..a54e202c8b5 100644
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -78,9 +78,8 @@ if (get_home_page() != HOMEPAGE_SITE) {
     }
 }
 
-$eventparams = array('context' => context_course::instance(SITEID));
-$event = \core\event\course_viewed::create($eventparams);
-$event->trigger();
+// Trigger event.
+course_view(context_course::instance(SITEID));
 
 // If the hub plugin is installed then we let it take over the homepage here.
 if (file_exists($CFG->dirroot.'/local/hub/lib.php') and get_config('local_hub', 'hubenabled')) {