diff --git a/src/include/timer.h b/src/include/timer.h
index 6b7baaf9fd..65ce9b4b79 100644
--- a/src/include/timer.h
+++ b/src/include/timer.h
@@ -165,6 +165,15 @@ static inline int stopwatch_expired(struct stopwatch *sw)
 	return !mono_time_before(&sw->current, &sw->expires);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Tick and check the stopwatch as long as it has not expired.
+ */
+static inline void stopwatch_wait_until_expired(struct stopwatch *sw)
+{
+	while (!stopwatch_expired(sw))
+		;
+}
+
 /*
  * Return number of microseconds since starting the stopwatch.
  */