diff --git a/libifupdown/state.c b/libifupdown/state.c
index 4509031..f3a4260 100644
--- a/libifupdown/state.c
+++ b/libifupdown/state.c
@@ -63,6 +63,24 @@ lif_state_read_path(struct lif_dict *state, const char *path)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+void
+lif_state_ref_if(struct lif_dict *state, const char *ifname, struct lif_interface *iface)
+{
+	iface->refcount++;
+	lif_state_upsert(state, ifname, iface);
+}
+
+void
+lif_state_unref_if(struct lif_dict *state, const char *ifname, struct lif_interface *iface)
+{
+	iface->refcount--;
+
+	if (iface->refcount)
+		lif_state_upsert(state, ifname, iface);
+	else
+		lif_state_delete(state, ifname);
+}
+
 void
 lif_state_upsert(struct lif_dict *state, const char *ifname, struct lif_interface *iface)
 {
diff --git a/libifupdown/state.h b/libifupdown/state.h
index 8c46a63..bec039c 100644
--- a/libifupdown/state.h
+++ b/libifupdown/state.h
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ struct lif_state_record {
 extern bool lif_state_read(struct lif_dict *state, FILE *f);
 extern bool lif_state_read_path(struct lif_dict *state, const char *path);
 extern void lif_state_upsert(struct lif_dict *state, const char *ifname, struct lif_interface *iface);
+extern void lif_state_ref_if(struct lif_dict *state, const char *ifname, struct lif_interface *iface);
+extern void lif_state_unref_if(struct lif_dict *state, const char *ifname, struct lif_interface *iface);
 extern void lif_state_delete(struct lif_dict *state, const char *ifname);
 extern void lif_state_write(const struct lif_dict *state, FILE *f);
 extern bool lif_state_write_path(const struct lif_dict *state, const char *path);