diff --git a/libsepol/cil/src/cil_stack.c b/libsepol/cil/src/cil_stack.c
index bbfb961a..70a77bc1 100644
--- a/libsepol/cil/src/cil_stack.c
+++ b/libsepol/cil/src/cil_stack.c
@@ -67,6 +67,11 @@ int cil_stack_is_empty(struct cil_stack *stack)
 	return (stack->pos == -1);
 }
 
+int cil_stack_number_of_items(struct cil_stack *stack)
+{
+	return stack->pos + 1;
+}
+
 void cil_stack_push(struct cil_stack *stack, enum cil_flavor flavor, void *data)
 {
 	stack->pos++;
diff --git a/libsepol/cil/src/cil_stack.h b/libsepol/cil/src/cil_stack.h
index b78535ac..0e3eff66 100644
--- a/libsepol/cil/src/cil_stack.h
+++ b/libsepol/cil/src/cil_stack.h
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ void cil_stack_destroy(struct cil_stack **stack);
 
 void cil_stack_empty(struct cil_stack *stack);
 int cil_stack_is_empty(struct cil_stack *stack);
+int cil_stack_number_of_items(struct cil_stack *stack);
 
 void cil_stack_push(struct cil_stack *stack, enum cil_flavor flavor, void *data);
 struct cil_stack_item *cil_stack_pop(struct cil_stack *stack);