diff --git a/runtime/class_loader_utils.h b/runtime/class_loader_utils.h
index 1c35360..934c92b 100644
--- a/runtime/class_loader_utils.h
+++ b/runtime/class_loader_utils.h
@@ -30,6 +30,14 @@
 
 namespace art {
 
+// Returns true if the given class loader derives from BaseDexClassLoader.
+inline bool IsInstanceOfBaseDexClassLoader(ScopedObjectAccessAlreadyRunnable& soa,
+                                           Handle<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader)
+    REQUIRES_SHARED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
+  return class_loader->InstanceOf(
+      soa.Decode<mirror::Class>(WellKnownClasses::dalvik_system_BaseDexClassLoader));
+}
+
 // Returns true if the given class loader is either a PathClassLoader or a DexClassLoader.
 // (they both have the same behaviour with respect to class lookup order)
 inline bool IsPathOrDexClassLoader(ScopedObjectAccessAlreadyRunnable& soa,