diff --git a/src/xrt/include/xrt/xrt_defines.h b/src/xrt/include/xrt/xrt_defines.h
index 8758ef82a..ef1231296 100644
--- a/src/xrt/include/xrt/xrt_defines.h
+++ b/src/xrt/include/xrt/xrt_defines.h
@@ -16,6 +16,16 @@ extern "C" {
 #endif
 
 
+/*!
+ * A base class for reference counted objects.
+ *
+ * @ingroup xrt_iface
+ */
+struct xrt_reference
+{
+	uint32_t count;
+};
+
 /*!
  * Which blend mode does the device support, used as both a bitfield and value.
  *
@@ -356,6 +366,26 @@ union xrt_output_value {
 };
 
 
+/*
+ *
+ * Inline functions
+ *
+ */
+
+static inline bool
+xrt_reference_dec(struct xrt_reference *xref)
+{
+	int count = xrt_atomic_dec_return(&xref->count);
+	return count == 0;
+}
+
+static inline void
+xrt_reference_inc(struct xrt_reference *xref)
+{
+	xrt_atomic_inc_return(&xref->count);
+}
+
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif