diff --git a/avocado/utils/kernel_build.py b/avocado/utils/kernel.py
similarity index 87%
rename from avocado/utils/kernel_build.py
rename to avocado/utils/kernel.py
index bf7894fb76d275afd195afb35aedb3b7011f6ff1..6caab063829a0dcd0a507fca2cb0aae3e18c2042 100755
--- a/avocado/utils/kernel_build.py
+++ b/avocado/utils/kernel.py
@@ -13,11 +13,13 @@
 #
 # Copyright: Red Hat Inc. 2014
 # Author: Ruda Moura <rmoura@redhat.com>
+# Author: Santhosh G <santhog4@linux.vnet.ibm.com>
 
 import os
 import shutil
 import logging
 import tempfile
+from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 
 from . import download, archive, build
 
@@ -100,3 +102,15 @@ class KernelBuild(object):
 
     def __del__(self):
         shutil.rmtree(self.work_dir)
+
+
+def check_version(version):
+    """
+    This utility function compares the current kernel version with
+    the version parameter and gives assertion error if the version
+    parameter is greater.
+
+    :type version: string
+    :param version: version to be compared with current kernel version
+    """
+    assert LooseVersion(os.uname()[2]) > LooseVersion(version), "Old kernel"
diff --git a/examples/tests/linuxbuild.py b/examples/tests/linuxbuild.py
index c1354fe02fa95b1318b408131daf69d24aa92f1c..c956a38294c58391d71feeba15096ee0506e84de 100755
--- a/examples/tests/linuxbuild.py
+++ b/examples/tests/linuxbuild.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from avocado import Test
 from avocado import main
-from avocado.utils import kernel_build
+from avocado.utils import kernel
 
 
 class LinuxBuildTest(Test):
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ class LinuxBuildTest(Test):
         if linux_config is not None:
             linux_config = os.path.join(self.datadir, linux_config)
 
-        self.linux_build = kernel_build.KernelBuild(kernel_version,
-                                                    linux_config,
-                                                    self.srcdir)
+        self.linux_build = kernel.KernelBuild(kernel_version,
+                                              linux_config,
+                                              self.srcdir)
         self.linux_build.download()
         self.linux_build.uncompress()
         self.linux_build.configure()