diff --git a/include/linux/kref.h b/include/linux/kref.h
index e15828fd71f1..e2df6d397ff0 100644
--- a/include/linux/kref.h
+++ b/include/linux/kref.h
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ static inline void kref_init(struct kref *kref)
 	atomic_set(&kref->refcount, 1);
 }
 
+static inline int kref_read(const struct kref *kref)
+{
+	return atomic_read(&kref->refcount);
+}
+
 /**
  * kref_get - increment refcount for object.
  * @kref: object.