diff --git a/include/net/cfg80211.h b/include/net/cfg80211.h
index 6cfecb02a34b..229edc526cf5 100644
--- a/include/net/cfg80211.h
+++ b/include/net/cfg80211.h
@@ -2719,6 +2719,20 @@ struct cfg80211_bss *cfg80211_get_mesh(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 				       struct ieee80211_channel *channel,
 				       const u8 *meshid, size_t meshidlen,
 				       const u8 *meshcfg);
+/**
+ * cfg80211_ref_bss - reference BSS struct
+ * @bss: the BSS struct to reference
+ *
+ * Increments the refcount of the given BSS struct.
+ */
+void cfg80211_ref_bss(struct cfg80211_bss *bss);
+
+/**
+ * cfg80211_put_bss - unref BSS struct
+ * @bss: the BSS struct
+ *
+ * Decrements the refcount of the given BSS struct.
+ */
 void cfg80211_put_bss(struct cfg80211_bss *bss);
 
 /**
diff --git a/net/wireless/core.h b/net/wireless/core.h
index 2b454caf4395..3ac2dd00d714 100644
--- a/net/wireless/core.h
+++ b/net/wireless/core.h
@@ -144,11 +144,6 @@ static inline struct cfg80211_internal_bss *bss_from_pub(struct cfg80211_bss *pu
 	return container_of(pub, struct cfg80211_internal_bss, pub);
 }
 
-static inline void cfg80211_ref_bss(struct cfg80211_internal_bss *bss)
-{
-	kref_get(&bss->ref);
-}
-
 static inline void cfg80211_hold_bss(struct cfg80211_internal_bss *bss)
 {
 	atomic_inc(&bss->hold);
diff --git a/net/wireless/scan.c b/net/wireless/scan.c
index 31119e32e092..afde7e5f0010 100644
--- a/net/wireless/scan.c
+++ b/net/wireless/scan.c
@@ -861,6 +861,18 @@ cfg80211_inform_bss_frame(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(cfg80211_inform_bss_frame);
 
+void cfg80211_ref_bss(struct cfg80211_bss *pub)
+{
+	struct cfg80211_internal_bss *bss;
+
+	if (!pub)
+		return;
+
+	bss = container_of(pub, struct cfg80211_internal_bss, pub);
+	kref_get(&bss->ref);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(cfg80211_ref_bss);
+
 void cfg80211_put_bss(struct cfg80211_bss *pub)
 {
 	struct cfg80211_internal_bss *bss;