diff --git a/include/asm-generic/bitsperlong.h b/include/asm-generic/bitsperlong.h
index 3905c1c..1023e2a 100644
--- a/include/asm-generic/bitsperlong.h
+++ b/include/asm-generic/bitsperlong.h
@@ -23,4 +23,16 @@
 #define BITS_PER_LONG_LONG 64
 #endif
 
+/*
+ * small_const_nbits(n) is true precisely when it is known at compile-time
+ * that BITMAP_SIZE(n) is 1, i.e. 1 <= n <= BITS_PER_LONG. This allows
+ * various bit/bitmap APIs to provide a fast inline implementation. Bitmaps
+ * of size 0 are very rare, and a compile-time-known-size 0 is most likely
+ * a sign of error. They will be handled correctly by the bit/bitmap APIs,
+ * but using the out-of-line functions, so that the inline implementations
+ * can unconditionally dereference the pointer(s).
+ */
+#define small_const_nbits(nbits) \
+	(__builtin_constant_p(nbits) && (nbits) <= BITS_PER_LONG && (nbits) > 0)
+
 #endif /* __ASM_GENERIC_BITS_PER_LONG */