diff --git a/kernel/printk/internal.h b/kernel/printk/internal.h
index 2a17704136f1..7d4979d5c3ce 100644
--- a/kernel/printk/internal.h
+++ b/kernel/printk/internal.h
@@ -103,3 +103,5 @@ struct printk_message {
 	u64			seq;
 	unsigned long		dropped;
 };
+
+bool other_cpu_in_panic(void);
diff --git a/kernel/printk/printk.c b/kernel/printk/printk.c
index efe577477913..8787d3a72114 100644
--- a/kernel/printk/printk.c
+++ b/kernel/printk/printk.c
@@ -2612,11 +2612,12 @@ static int console_cpu_notify(unsigned int cpu)
 }
 
 /*
- * Return true when this CPU should unlock console_sem without pushing all
- * messages to the console. This reduces the chance that the console is
- * locked when the panic CPU tries to use it.
+ * Return true if a panic is in progress on a remote CPU.
+ *
+ * On true, the local CPU should immediately release any printing resources
+ * that may be needed by the panic CPU.
  */
-static bool abandon_console_lock_in_panic(void)
+bool other_cpu_in_panic(void)
 {
 	if (!panic_in_progress())
 		return false;
@@ -2643,7 +2644,7 @@ void console_lock(void)
 	might_sleep();
 
 	/* On panic, the console_lock must be left to the panic cpu. */
-	while (abandon_console_lock_in_panic())
+	while (other_cpu_in_panic())
 		msleep(1000);
 
 	down_console_sem();
@@ -2663,7 +2664,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(console_lock);
 int console_trylock(void)
 {
 	/* On panic, the console_lock must be left to the panic cpu. */
-	if (abandon_console_lock_in_panic())
+	if (other_cpu_in_panic())
 		return 0;
 	if (down_trylock_console_sem())
 		return 0;
@@ -2978,7 +2979,7 @@ static bool console_flush_all(bool do_cond_resched, u64 *next_seq, bool *handove
 			any_progress = true;
 
 			/* Allow panic_cpu to take over the consoles safely. */
-			if (abandon_console_lock_in_panic())
+			if (other_cpu_in_panic())
 				goto abandon;
 
 			if (do_cond_resched)