diff --git a/lib/kobject.c b/lib/kobject.c
index 445dcae..763d70a 100644
--- a/lib/kobject.c
+++ b/lib/kobject.c
@@ -601,12 +601,15 @@
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(kobject_get);
 
-static struct kobject * __must_check kobject_get_unless_zero(struct kobject *kobj)
+struct kobject * __must_check kobject_get_unless_zero(struct kobject *kobj)
 {
+	if (!kobj)
+		return NULL;
 	if (!kref_get_unless_zero(&kobj->kref))
 		kobj = NULL;
 	return kobj;
 }
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(kobject_get_unless_zero);
 
 /*
  * kobject_cleanup - free kobject resources.