diff --git a/include/common/xref.h b/include/common/xref.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b020280ef0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/common/xref.h
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#ifndef __XREF_H__
+#define __XREF_H__
+
+/* xref is used to create relation between two elements.
+ * Once an element is released, it breaks the relation. If the
+ * relation is already broken, it frees the xref struct.
+ * The pointer between two elements is sort of a refcount with
+ * max value 1. The relation is only between two elements.
+ * The pointer and the type of elements a and b are conventional.
+ */
+
+struct xref {
+	struct xref *peer;
+};
+
+static inline void xref_create(struct xref *xref_a, struct xref *xref_b)
+{
+	xref_a->peer = xref_b;
+	xref_b->peer = xref_a;
+}
+
+static inline struct xref *xref_get_peer(struct xref *xref)
+{
+	if (!xref->peer)
+		return NULL;
+	return xref->peer;
+}
+
+static inline void xref_disconnect(struct xref *xref)
+{
+	if (!xref->peer)
+		return;
+
+	xref->peer->peer = NULL;
+	xref->peer = NULL;
+}
+
+#endif /* __XREF_H__ */