diff --git a/include/net.h b/include/net.h
index f1671e38de..3a787cc4e9 100644
--- a/include/net.h
+++ b/include/net.h
@@ -149,7 +149,9 @@ struct udevice *eth_get_dev(void); /* get the current device */
  */
 struct udevice *eth_get_dev_by_name(const char *devname);
 unsigned char *eth_get_ethaddr(void); /* get the current device MAC */
+
 /* Used only when NetConsole is enabled */
+int eth_is_active(struct udevice *dev); /* Test device for active state */
 int eth_init_state_only(void); /* Set active state */
 void eth_halt_state_only(void); /* Set passive state */
 #endif
@@ -195,6 +197,8 @@ static inline unsigned char *eth_get_ethaddr(void)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+/* Used only when NetConsole is enabled */
+int eth_is_active(struct eth_device *dev); /* Test device for active state */
 /* Set active state */
 static inline __attribute__((always_inline)) int eth_init_state_only(void)
 {
diff --git a/net/eth.c b/net/eth.c
index 26520d3038..2e24b55726 100644
--- a/net/eth.c
+++ b/net/eth.c
@@ -389,6 +389,17 @@ void eth_halt(void)
 	priv->state = ETH_STATE_PASSIVE;
 }
 
+int eth_is_active(struct udevice *dev)
+{
+	struct eth_device_priv *priv;
+
+	if (!dev || !device_active(dev))
+		return 0;
+
+	priv = dev_get_uclass_priv(dev);
+	return priv->state == ETH_STATE_ACTIVE;
+}
+
 int eth_send(void *packet, int length)
 {
 	struct udevice *current;
@@ -580,7 +591,7 @@ UCLASS_DRIVER(eth) = {
 	.per_device_auto_alloc_size = sizeof(struct eth_device_priv),
 	.flags		= DM_UC_FLAG_SEQ_ALIAS,
 };
-#endif
+#endif /* #ifdef CONFIG_DM_ETH */
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_DM_ETH
 
@@ -918,6 +929,11 @@ void eth_halt(void)
 	eth_current->state = ETH_STATE_PASSIVE;
 }
 
+int eth_is_active(struct eth_device *dev)
+{
+	return dev && dev->state == ETH_STATE_ACTIVE;
+}
+
 int eth_send(void *packet, int length)
 {
 	if (!eth_current)