diff --git a/include/linux/irq.h b/include/linux/irq.h
index efc88538b2ba..4669be080617 100644
--- a/include/linux/irq.h
+++ b/include/linux/irq.h
@@ -339,6 +339,13 @@ extern void
 __set_irq_handler(unsigned int irq, irq_flow_handler_t handle, int is_chained,
 		  const char *name);
 
+/* caller has locked the irq_desc and both params are valid */
+static inline void __set_irq_handler_unlocked(int irq,
+					      irq_flow_handler_t handler)
+{
+	irq_desc[irq].handle_irq = handler;
+}
+
 /*
  * Set a highlevel flow handler for a given IRQ:
  */