diff --git a/include/ck_rwlock.h b/include/ck_rwlock.h
index 3146f90..0b51b34 100644
--- a/include/ck_rwlock.h
+++ b/include/ck_rwlock.h
@@ -58,6 +58,15 @@ ck_rwlock_write_unlock(ck_rwlock_t *rw)
 	return;
 }
 
+CK_CC_INLINE static void
+ck_rwlock_write_downgrade(ck_rwlock_t *rw)
+{
+
+	ck_pr_inc_uint(&rw->n_readers);
+	ck_rwlock_write_unlock(rw);
+	return;
+}
+
 CK_CC_INLINE static bool
 ck_rwlock_write_trylock(ck_rwlock_t *rw, unsigned int factor)
 {