diff --git a/include/net/net_namespace.h b/include/net/net_namespace.h
index aa540e6..d9dd0f7 100644
--- a/include/net/net_namespace.h
+++ b/include/net/net_namespace.h
@@ -95,6 +95,11 @@
 #ifdef CONFIG_NET_NS
 extern void __put_net(struct net *net);
 
+static inline int net_alive(struct net *net)
+{
+	return net && atomic_read(&net->count);
+}
+
 static inline struct net *get_net(struct net *net)
 {
 	atomic_inc(&net->count);
@@ -125,6 +130,12 @@
 	return net1 == net2;
 }
 #else
+
+static inline int net_alive(struct net *net)
+{
+	return 1;
+}
+
 static inline struct net *get_net(struct net *net)
 {
 	return net;