diff --git a/python_module/megengine/distributed/__init__.py b/python_module/megengine/distributed/__init__.py
index fb6e8033a72b107447336c816304180781446756..63974cd37467c2f8f62cfd5e83c1cedf2c25ac0a 100644
--- a/python_module/megengine/distributed/__init__.py
+++ b/python_module/megengine/distributed/__init__.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from .functional import (
 )
 from .util import (
     get_backend,
+    get_free_ports,
     get_master_ip,
     get_master_port,
     get_rank,
diff --git a/python_module/megengine/distributed/util.py b/python_module/megengine/distributed/util.py
index 52248d303fd77fee5df203a656ff44409d53be98..115ae326fd7b33963021bb8082297a9aa7ff30f2 100644
--- a/python_module/megengine/distributed/util.py
+++ b/python_module/megengine/distributed/util.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 # software distributed under the License is distributed on an
 # "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT ARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 import functools
+import socket
 from typing import Callable, Optional
 
 import megengine._internal as mgb
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ def synchronized(func: Callable):
     Specifically, we use this to prevent data race during hub.load"""
 
     @functools.wraps(func)
-    def _(*args, **kwargs):
+    def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
         if not is_distributed():
             return func(*args, **kwargs)
 
@@ -118,4 +119,19 @@ def synchronized(func: Callable):
         group_barrier()
         return ret
 
-    return _
+    return wrapper
+
+
+def get_free_ports(num: Optional[int] = 1) -> int:
+    """Get one or more free ports.
+       Return an integer if num is 1, otherwise return a list of integers
+    """
+    socks, ports = [], []
+    for i in range(num):
+        sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+        sock.bind(("", 0))
+        socks.append(sock)
+        ports.append(sock.getsockname()[1])
+    for sock in socks:
+        sock.close()
+    return ports[0] if num == 1 else ports