diff --git a/hw/core/irq.c b/hw/core/irq.c
index 20785428ef00eff815b67a98a90a8816ccab9987..03c8cb31ea9b89ce11a7f1473b766902ae4fb9dd 100644
--- a/hw/core/irq.c
+++ b/hw/core/irq.c
@@ -68,6 +68,17 @@ qemu_irq *qemu_allocate_irqs(qemu_irq_handler handler, void *opaque, int n)
     return qemu_extend_irqs(NULL, 0, handler, opaque, n);
 }
 
+qemu_irq qemu_allocate_irq(qemu_irq_handler handler, void *opaque, int n)
+{
+    struct IRQState *irq;
+
+    irq = g_new(struct IRQState, 1);
+    irq->handler = handler;
+    irq->opaque = opaque;
+    irq->n = n;
+
+    return irq;
+}
 
 void qemu_free_irqs(qemu_irq *s)
 {
@@ -75,6 +86,11 @@ void qemu_free_irqs(qemu_irq *s)
     g_free(s);
 }
 
+void qemu_free_irq(qemu_irq irq)
+{
+    g_free(irq);
+}
+
 static void qemu_notirq(void *opaque, int line, int level)
 {
     struct IRQState *irq = opaque;
diff --git a/include/hw/irq.h b/include/hw/irq.h
index 610e6b76236e8c2ee9b56f1c32a7617f2f2c7881..d08bc02a0d1065531969d080903c8358fad9ad8e 100644
--- a/include/hw/irq.h
+++ b/include/hw/irq.h
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ static inline void qemu_irq_pulse(qemu_irq irq)
  */
 qemu_irq *qemu_allocate_irqs(qemu_irq_handler handler, void *opaque, int n);
 
+/*
+ * Allocates a single IRQ. The irq is assigned with a handler, an opaque
+ * data and the interrupt number.
+ */
+qemu_irq qemu_allocate_irq(qemu_irq_handler handler, void *opaque, int n);
+
 /* Extends an Array of IRQs. Old IRQs have their handlers and opaque data
  * preserved. New IRQs are assigned the argument handler and opaque data.
  */
@@ -37,6 +43,7 @@ qemu_irq *qemu_extend_irqs(qemu_irq *old, int n_old, qemu_irq_handler handler,
                                 void *opaque, int n);
 
 void qemu_free_irqs(qemu_irq *s);
+void qemu_free_irq(qemu_irq irq);
 
 /* Returns a new IRQ with opposite polarity.  */
 qemu_irq qemu_irq_invert(qemu_irq irq);