diff --git a/rdic.h b/rdic.h
index de8ef09..cb0817f 100644
--- a/rdic.h
+++ b/rdic.h
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ static inline int rdic_node_references_equal(
 	return (n.node == m.node) && (n.generation == m.generation);
 }
 
+static inline int rdic_node_reference_valid(
+	RDIC_Node_Reference n)
+{
+	return (n.node != NULL) && (n.generation == n.node->generation);
+}
+
 enum {
 	RDIC_GET_NODE__NODES_COLLECTED = 1 << 0,
 	RDIC_GET_NODE__NODE_ALLOCATED  = 1 << 1,