diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2a8c8dca6..90c3daa04 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ Support for AES_XTS was added for the QAT polled mode driver (pmd).  The create
 AES_CBC (default) or AES_XTS. AES_XTS isonly valid when using the QAT polled mode driver.
 The key2 parameter is the second key required for AES_XTS.
 
+### util
+
+New functions `spdk_sn32_lt` and `spdk_sn32_gt` have been added. They compare two sequence
+numbers based on serial number arithmetic.
+
 ## v20.01
 
 ### bdev
diff --git a/include/spdk/util.h b/include/spdk/util.h
index 41734e46e..6358524fa 100644
--- a/include/spdk/util.h
+++ b/include/spdk/util.h
@@ -135,6 +135,54 @@ size_t spdk_iovcpy(struct iovec *siov, size_t siovcnt, struct iovec *diov, size_
 		} \
 	} while (0)
 
+/**
+ * Add two sequece numbers s1 and s2
+ *
+ * \param s1 First sequence number
+ * \param s2 Second sequence number
+ *
+ * \return Sum of s1 and s2 based on serial number arithmetic.
+ */
+static inline uint32_t
+spdk_sn32_add(uint32_t s1, uint32_t s2)
+{
+	return (uint32_t)(s1 + s2);
+}
+
+#define SPDK_SN32_CMPMAX	(1U << (32 - 1))
+
+/**
+ * Compare if sequence number s1 is less than s2.
+ *
+ * \param s1 First sequence number
+ * \param s2 Second sequence number
+ *
+ * \return true if s1 is less than s2, or false otherwise.
+ */
+static inline bool
+spdk_sn32_lt(uint32_t s1, uint32_t s2)
+{
+	return (s1 != s2) &&
+	       ((s1 < s2 && s2 - s1 < SPDK_SN32_CMPMAX) ||
+		(s1 > s2 && s1 - s2 > SPDK_SN32_CMPMAX));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Compare if sequence number s1 is greater than s2.
+ *
+ * \param s1 First sequence number
+ * \param s2 Second sequence number
+ *
+ * \return true if s1 is greater than s2, or false otherwise.
+ */
+static inline bool
+spdk_sn32_gt(uint32_t s1, uint32_t s2)
+{
+	return (s1 != s2) &&
+	       ((s1 < s2 && s2 - s1 > SPDK_SN32_CMPMAX) ||
+		(s1 > s2 && s1 - s2 < SPDK_SN32_CMPMAX));
+}
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/test/unit/lib/util/Makefile b/test/unit/lib/util/Makefile
index 20cf5b124..221715725 100644
--- a/test/unit/lib/util/Makefile
+++ b/test/unit/lib/util/Makefile
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ SPDK_ROOT_DIR := $(abspath $(CURDIR)/../../../..)
 include $(SPDK_ROOT_DIR)/mk/spdk.common.mk
 
 DIRS-y = base64.c bit_array.c cpuset.c crc16.c crc32_ieee.c crc32c.c dif.c \
-	 iov.c pipe.c string.c
+	 iov.c math.c pipe.c string.c
 
 .PHONY: all clean $(DIRS-y)
 
diff --git a/test/unit/lib/util/math.c/.gitignore b/test/unit/lib/util/math.c/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e51846f2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/lib/util/math.c/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+math_ut
diff --git a/test/unit/lib/util/math.c/Makefile b/test/unit/lib/util/math.c/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e8b20c6be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/lib/util/math.c/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#
+#  BSD LICENSE
+#
+#  Copyright (c) Intel Corporation.
+#  All rights reserved.
+#
+#  Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+#  modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+#  are met:
+#
+#    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+#      the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+#      distribution.
+#    * Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its
+#      contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+#      from this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+#  THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+#  "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#  LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+#  A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+#  OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+#  SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#  LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+#  DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+#  THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+#  (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+#  OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+#
+
+SPDK_ROOT_DIR := $(abspath $(CURDIR)/../../../../..)
+include $(SPDK_ROOT_DIR)/mk/spdk.common.mk
+
+TEST_FILE = math_ut.c
+
+include $(SPDK_ROOT_DIR)/mk/spdk.unittest.mk
diff --git a/test/unit/lib/util/math.c/math_ut.c b/test/unit/lib/util/math.c/math_ut.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c4b4f630b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/lib/util/math.c/math_ut.c
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+/*-
+ *   BSD LICENSE
+ *
+ *   Copyright (c) Intel Corporation.
+ *   All rights reserved.
+ *
+ *   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ *   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ *   are met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ *       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *       distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its
+ *       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+ *       from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ *   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ *   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ *   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ *   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ *   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ *   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ *   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ *   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ *   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#include "spdk/stdinc.h"
+
+#include "spdk_cunit.h"
+
+#include "util/math.c"
+
+static void
+test_serial_number_arithmetic(void)
+{
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_add(0, 1) == 1);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_add(1, 1) == 2);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_add(1, 2) == 3);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_add(1, UINT32_MAX) == 0);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_add(UINT32_MAX, UINT32_MAX) == UINT32_MAX - 1);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_gt(1, 0) == true);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_gt(2, 1) == true);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_gt(UINT32_MAX, UINT32_MAX - 1) == true);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_gt(0, UINT32_MAX) == true);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_gt(100, UINT32_MAX - 100) == true);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_lt(1, 0) == false);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_lt(2, 1) == false);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_lt(UINT32_MAX, UINT32_MAX - 1) == false);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_lt(0, UINT32_MAX) == false);
+	CU_ASSERT(spdk_sn32_lt(100, UINT32_MAX - 100) == false);
+}
+
+int
+main(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+	CU_pSuite	suite = NULL;
+	unsigned int	num_failures;
+
+	if (CU_initialize_registry() != CUE_SUCCESS) {
+		return CU_get_error();
+	}
+
+	suite = CU_add_suite("math", NULL, NULL);
+	if (suite == NULL) {
+		CU_cleanup_registry();
+		return CU_get_error();
+	}
+
+	if (
+		CU_add_test(suite, "test_serial_number_arithmetic",
+			    test_serial_number_arithmetic) == NULL
+	) {
+		CU_cleanup_registry();
+		return CU_get_error();
+	}
+
+	CU_basic_set_mode(CU_BRM_VERBOSE);
+
+	CU_basic_run_tests();
+
+	num_failures = CU_get_number_of_failures();
+	CU_cleanup_registry();
+
+	return num_failures;
+}
diff --git a/test/unit/unittest.sh b/test/unit/unittest.sh
index b0d35c670..2ae70c3a3 100755
--- a/test/unit/unittest.sh
+++ b/test/unit/unittest.sh
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ function unittest_util {
 	$valgrind $testdir/lib/util/string.c/string_ut
 	$valgrind $testdir/lib/util/dif.c/dif_ut
 	$valgrind $testdir/lib/util/iov.c/iov_ut
+	$valgrind $testdir/lib/util/math.c/math_ut
 	$valgrind $testdir/lib/util/pipe.c/pipe_ut
 }