diff --git a/include/binder/IPCThreadState.h b/include/binder/IPCThreadState.h
index b54718f..3378d97 100644
--- a/include/binder/IPCThreadState.h
+++ b/include/binder/IPCThreadState.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 {
 public:
     static  IPCThreadState*     self();
+    static  IPCThreadState*     selfOrNull();  // self(), but won't instantiate
     
             sp<ProcessState>    process();
             
diff --git a/libs/binder/IPCThreadState.cpp b/libs/binder/IPCThreadState.cpp
index 13c58f0..95cfddf 100644
--- a/libs/binder/IPCThreadState.cpp
+++ b/libs/binder/IPCThreadState.cpp
@@ -318,6 +318,16 @@
     goto restart;
 }
 
+IPCThreadState* IPCThreadState::selfOrNull()
+{
+    if (gHaveTLS) {
+        const pthread_key_t k = gTLS;
+        IPCThreadState* st = (IPCThreadState*)pthread_getspecific(k);
+        return st;
+    }
+    return NULL;
+}
+
 void IPCThreadState::shutdown()
 {
     gShutdown = true;