diff --git a/drivers/iommu/iommu.c b/drivers/iommu/iommu.c
index 9a2f1960873b..9408c3145483 100644
--- a/drivers/iommu/iommu.c
+++ b/drivers/iommu/iommu.c
@@ -551,6 +551,19 @@ struct iommu_group *iommu_group_get(struct device *dev)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(iommu_group_get);
 
+/**
+ * iommu_group_ref_get - Increment reference on a group
+ * @group: the group to use, must not be NULL
+ *
+ * This function is called by iommu drivers to take additional references on an
+ * existing group.  Returns the given group for convenience.
+ */
+struct iommu_group *iommu_group_ref_get(struct iommu_group *group)
+{
+	kobject_get(group->devices_kobj);
+	return group;
+}
+
 /**
  * iommu_group_put - Decrement group reference
  * @group: the group to use
diff --git a/include/linux/iommu.h b/include/linux/iommu.h
index 436dc21318af..431638110c6a 100644
--- a/include/linux/iommu.h
+++ b/include/linux/iommu.h
@@ -253,6 +253,7 @@ extern void iommu_group_remove_device(struct device *dev);
 extern int iommu_group_for_each_dev(struct iommu_group *group, void *data,
 				    int (*fn)(struct device *, void *));
 extern struct iommu_group *iommu_group_get(struct device *dev);
+extern struct iommu_group *iommu_group_ref_get(struct iommu_group *group);
 extern void iommu_group_put(struct iommu_group *group);
 extern int iommu_group_register_notifier(struct iommu_group *group,
 					 struct notifier_block *nb);