diff --git a/fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c b/fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c
index cd8bbf13d0f0..6bb2d9a3513d 100644
--- a/fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c
+++ b/fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c
@@ -35,6 +35,20 @@ struct ctl_table sysctl_mount_point[] = {
 	{ }
 };
 
+/**
+ * register_sysctl_mount_point() - registers a sysctl mount point
+ * @path: path for the mount point
+ *
+ * Used to create a permanently empty directory to serve as mount point.
+ * There are some subtle but important permission checks this allows in the
+ * case of unprivileged mounts.
+ */
+struct ctl_table_header *register_sysctl_mount_point(const char *path)
+{
+	return register_sysctl(path, sysctl_mount_point);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(register_sysctl_mount_point);
+
 static bool is_empty_dir(struct ctl_table_header *head)
 {
 	return head->ctl_table[0].child == sysctl_mount_point;
diff --git a/include/linux/sysctl.h b/include/linux/sysctl.h
index fce05a060bc5..746c098a6ff5 100644
--- a/include/linux/sysctl.h
+++ b/include/linux/sysctl.h
@@ -209,6 +209,8 @@ extern int sysctl_init(void);
 extern void __register_sysctl_init(const char *path, struct ctl_table *table,
 				 const char *table_name);
 #define register_sysctl_init(path, table) __register_sysctl_init(path, table, #table)
+extern struct ctl_table_header *register_sysctl_mount_point(const char *path);
+
 void do_sysctl_args(void);
 
 extern int pwrsw_enabled;
@@ -224,6 +226,11 @@ static inline struct ctl_table_header *register_sysctl_table(struct ctl_table *
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+static inline struct sysctl_header *register_sysctl_mount_point(const char *path)
+{
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 static inline struct ctl_table_header *register_sysctl_paths(
 			const struct ctl_path *path, struct ctl_table *table)
 {