diff --git a/sound/core/control.c b/sound/core/control.c
index a08ad57..5d98194 100644
--- a/sound/core/control.c
+++ b/sound/core/control.c
@@ -366,6 +366,70 @@
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_ctl_add);
 
 /**
+ * snd_ctl_replace - replace the control instance of the card
+ * @card: the card instance
+ * @kcontrol: the control instance to replace
+ * @add_on_replace: add the control if not already added
+ *
+ * Replaces the given control.  If the given control does not exist
+ * and the add_on_replace flag is set, the control is added.  If the
+ * control exists, it is destroyed first.
+ *
+ * Returns zero if successful, or a negative error code on failure.
+ *
+ * It frees automatically the control which cannot be added or replaced.
+ */
+int snd_ctl_replace(struct snd_card *card, struct snd_kcontrol *kcontrol,
+		    bool add_on_replace)
+{
+	struct snd_ctl_elem_id id;
+	unsigned int idx;
+	struct snd_kcontrol *old;
+	int ret;
+
+	if (!kcontrol)
+		return -EINVAL;
+	if (snd_BUG_ON(!card || !kcontrol->info)) {
+		ret = -EINVAL;
+		goto error;
+	}
+	id = kcontrol->id;
+	down_write(&card->controls_rwsem);
+	old = snd_ctl_find_id(card, &id);
+	if (!old) {
+		if (add_on_replace)
+			goto add;
+		up_write(&card->controls_rwsem);
+		ret = -EINVAL;
+		goto error;
+	}
+	ret = snd_ctl_remove(card, old);
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		up_write(&card->controls_rwsem);
+		goto error;
+	}
+add:
+	if (snd_ctl_find_hole(card, kcontrol->count) < 0) {
+		up_write(&card->controls_rwsem);
+		ret = -ENOMEM;
+		goto error;
+	}
+	list_add_tail(&kcontrol->list, &card->controls);
+	card->controls_count += kcontrol->count;
+	kcontrol->id.numid = card->last_numid + 1;
+	card->last_numid += kcontrol->count;
+	up_write(&card->controls_rwsem);
+	for (idx = 0; idx < kcontrol->count; idx++, id.index++, id.numid++)
+		snd_ctl_notify(card, SNDRV_CTL_EVENT_MASK_ADD, &id);
+	return 0;
+
+error:
+	snd_ctl_free_one(kcontrol);
+	return ret;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_ctl_replace);
+
+/**
  * snd_ctl_remove - remove the control from the card and release it
  * @card: the card instance
  * @kcontrol: the control instance to remove