diff --git a/lib/nvme/nvme.c b/lib/nvme/nvme.c
index 60157e89e..ef2e74244 100644
--- a/lib/nvme/nvme.c
+++ b/lib/nvme/nvme.c
@@ -156,6 +156,23 @@ nvme_free_request(struct nvme_request *req)
 	nvme_dealloc_request(req);
 }
 
+int
+nvme_mutex_init_shared(pthread_mutex_t *mtx)
+{
+	pthread_mutexattr_t attr;
+	int rc = 0;
+
+	if (pthread_mutexattr_init(&attr)) {
+		return -1;
+	}
+	if (pthread_mutexattr_setpshared(&attr, PTHREAD_PROCESS_SHARED) ||
+	    pthread_mutex_init(mtx, &attr)) {
+		rc = -1;
+	}
+	pthread_mutexattr_destroy(&attr);
+	return rc;
+}
+
 struct nvme_enum_ctx {
 	spdk_nvme_probe_cb probe_cb;
 	void *cb_ctx;
diff --git a/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h b/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
index 64949a861..6e1716597 100644
--- a/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
+++ b/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
@@ -580,4 +580,6 @@ bool	nvme_intel_has_quirk(struct pci_id *id, uint64_t quirk);
 
 void	spdk_nvme_ctrlr_opts_set_defaults(struct spdk_nvme_ctrlr_opts *opts);
 
+int	nvme_mutex_init_shared(pthread_mutex_t *mtx);
+
 #endif /* __NVME_INTERNAL_H__ */