diff --git a/include/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h b/include/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h
index 6d39b51..3ff88c8 100644
--- a/include/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h
+++ b/include/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h
@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@
 	unsigned int expect_delete;
 };
 
+/* call to create an explicit dependency on nf_conntrack. */
+extern void need_conntrack(void);
+
 #endif /* __KERNEL__ */
 
 #endif /* _NF_CONNTRACK_COMMON_H */