Index: trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/preferences/SourceEditor.java
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/preferences/SourceEditor.java	(revision 8680)
+++ trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/preferences/SourceEditor.java	(revision 8681)
@@ -443,4 +443,17 @@
     public Collection<SourceEntry> getActiveSources() {
         return activeSourcesModel.getSources();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Synchronously loads available sources and returns the parsed list.
+     */
+    Collection<ExtendedSourceEntry> loadAndGetAvailableSources() {
+        try {
+            final SourceLoader loader = new SourceLoader(availableSourcesUrl, sourceProviders);
+            loader.realRun();
+            return loader.sources;
+        } catch (Exception ex) {
+            throw new RuntimeException(ex);
+        }
     }