diff --git a/libc/bionic/system_properties.cpp b/libc/bionic/system_properties.cpp
index aae99b1..c436a16 100644
--- a/libc/bionic/system_properties.cpp
+++ b/libc/bionic/system_properties.cpp
@@ -598,6 +598,16 @@
     return map_prop_area_rw();
 }
 
+unsigned int __system_property_area_serial()
+{
+    prop_area *pa = __system_property_area__;
+    if (!pa) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    // Make sure this read fulfilled before __system_property_serial
+    return atomic_load_explicit(&(pa->serial), memory_order_acquire);
+}
+
 const prop_info *__system_property_find(const char *name)
 {
     if (__predict_false(compat_mode)) {
diff --git a/libc/include/sys/_system_properties.h b/libc/include/sys/_system_properties.h
index 7ff3ded..c200295 100644
--- a/libc/include/sys/_system_properties.h
+++ b/libc/include/sys/_system_properties.h
@@ -98,6 +98,24 @@
 */
 int __system_property_area_init();
 
+/* Read the global serial number of the system properties
+**
+** Called to predict if a series of cached __system_property_find
+** objects will have seen __system_property_serial values change.
+** But also aids the converse, as changes in the global serial can
+** also be used to predict if a failed __system_property_find
+** could in-turn now find an new object; thus preventing the
+** cycles of effort to poll __system_property_find.
+**
+** Called at the beginning of a cache cycle to signal _any_ possible
+** changes have occurred since last. If there is, check each individual
+** __system_property_serial to confirm dirty, or __system_property_find
+** to check if the property now exists.
+**
+** Returns the serial number on success, -1 on error.
+*/
+unsigned int __system_property_area_serial();
+
 /* Add a new system property.  Can only be done by a single
 ** process that has write access to the property area, and
 ** that process must handle sequencing to ensure the property