diff --git a/src/libratbag.c b/src/libratbag.c
index f51cd2ab..8ef83f42 100644
--- a/src/libratbag.c
+++ b/src/libratbag.c
@@ -333,6 +333,13 @@ out_err:
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+LIBRATBAG_EXPORT struct ratbag_device *
+ratbag_device_ref(struct ratbag_device *device)
+{
+	device->refcount++;
+	return device;
+}
+
 LIBRATBAG_EXPORT struct ratbag_device *
 ratbag_device_unref(struct ratbag_device *device)
 {
diff --git a/src/libratbag.sym b/src/libratbag.sym
index db78dbe1..822cf727 100644
--- a/src/libratbag.sym
+++ b/src/libratbag.sym
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ global:
 	ratbag_device_get_profile_by_index;
 	ratbag_device_has_capability;
 	ratbag_device_new_from_udev_device;
+	ratbag_device_ref;
 	ratbag_device_set_active_profile;
 	ratbag_log_get_priority;
 	ratbag_log_set_handler;