diff --git a/include/linux/rcupdate.h b/include/linux/rcupdate.h
index a4a819ffb2d1..53ff1a752d7e 100644
--- a/include/linux/rcupdate.h
+++ b/include/linux/rcupdate.h
@@ -616,6 +616,21 @@ static inline void rcu_preempt_sleep_check(void)
  */
 #define RCU_INITIALIZER(v) (typeof(*(v)) __force __rcu *)(v)
 
+/**
+ * lockless_dereference() - safely load a pointer for later dereference
+ * @p: The pointer to load
+ *
+ * Similar to rcu_dereference(), but for situations where the pointed-to
+ * object's lifetime is managed by something other than RCU.  That
+ * "something other" might be reference counting or simple immortality.
+ */
+#define lockless_dereference(p) \
+({ \
+	typeof(p) _________p1 = ACCESS_ONCE(p); \
+	smp_read_barrier_depends(); /* Dependency order vs. p above. */ \
+	(_________p1); \
+})
+
 /**
  * rcu_assign_pointer() - assign to RCU-protected pointer
  * @p: pointer to assign to