diff --git a/include/block/aio.h b/include/block/aio.h
index 92efc5e1f1..cab7c765e3 100644
--- a/include/block/aio.h
+++ b/include/block/aio.h
@@ -405,6 +405,17 @@ static inline void aio_enable_external(AioContext *ctx)
     atomic_dec(&ctx->external_disable_cnt);
 }
 
+/**
+ * aio_external_disabled:
+ * @ctx: the aio context
+ *
+ * Return true if the external clients are disabled.
+ */
+static inline bool aio_external_disabled(AioContext *ctx)
+{
+    return atomic_read(&ctx->external_disable_cnt);
+}
+
 /**
  * aio_node_check:
  * @ctx: the aio context