+/* Returns a reference to 'netdev_' for the caller to own. Returns null if
+ * 'netdev_' is null. */
+struct netdev *
+netdev_ref(const struct netdev *netdev_)
+{
+ struct netdev *netdev = CONST_CAST(struct netdev *, netdev_);
+
+ if (netdev) {
+ ovs_assert(netdev->ref_cnt > 0);
+ netdev->ref_cnt++;
+ }
+ return netdev;
+}
+