diff --git a/include/socks/device.h b/include/socks/device.h
index 2377f4c..f13ff13 100644
--- a/include/socks/device.h
+++ b/include/socks/device.h
@@ -265,6 +265,14 @@ static inline struct object *framebuffer_device_object(struct framebuffer_device
 }
 
 extern kern_status_t device_register(struct device *dev, struct driver *owner, struct device *parent);
+static inline struct device *device_ref(struct device *dev)
+{
+	return cast_to_device(object_ref(&dev->dev_base));
+}
+static inline void device_deref(struct device *dev)
+{
+	object_deref(&dev->dev_base);
+}
 
 extern kern_status_t input_device_report_event(struct input_device *dev, const struct input_event *ev, bool noblock);
 extern kern_status_t input_device_read(struct device *dev, void *buf, size_t size, size_t *bytes_read, socks_flags_t flags);