diff --git a/openbsc/src/gsm_subscriber_base.c b/openbsc/src/gsm_subscriber_base.c
index 4027cd6..f5fb16c 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/gsm_subscriber_base.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/gsm_subscriber_base.c
@@ -219,3 +219,21 @@
 		subscr_send_paging_request(conn->subscr);
 }
 
+struct gsm_subscriber *subscr_get_or_create(struct gsm_network *net,
+					    const char *imsi)
+{
+	struct gsm_subscriber *subscr;
+
+	llist_for_each_entry(subscr, subscr_bsc_active_subscriber(), entry) {
+		if (strcmp(subscr->imsi, imsi) == 0 && subscr->net == net)
+			return subscr_get(subscr);
+	}
+
+	subscr = subscr_alloc();
+	if (!subscr)
+		return NULL;
+
+	strcpy(subscr->imsi, imsi);
+	subscr->net = net;
+	return subscr;
+}