diff --git a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_labpc_isadma.h b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_labpc_isadma.h
index 144f4bafdbd1..3b022ea6b564 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_labpc_isadma.h
+++ b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_labpc_isadma.h
@@ -9,11 +9,23 @@
 
 #if NI_LABPC_HAVE_ISA_DMA
 
+static inline bool labpc_have_dma_chan(struct comedi_device *dev)
+{
+	struct labpc_private *devpriv = dev->private;
+
+	return (bool)devpriv->dma_chan;
+}
+
 int labpc_init_dma_chan(struct comedi_device *dev, unsigned int dma_chan);
 void labpc_free_dma_chan(struct comedi_device *dev);
 
 #else
 
+static inline bool labpc_have_dma_chan(struct comedi_device *dev)
+{
+	return false;
+}
+
 static inline int labpc_init_dma_chan(struct comedi_device *dev,
 				      unsigned int dma_chan)
 {