diff --git a/arch/ppc/mach-mpc85xx/fdt.c b/arch/ppc/mach-mpc85xx/fdt.c
index 4feae44..65de6f1 100644
--- a/arch/ppc/mach-mpc85xx/fdt.c
+++ b/arch/ppc/mach-mpc85xx/fdt.c
@@ -70,9 +70,7 @@
 		goto error;
 	}
 
-	for_each_console(cdev)
-		if ((cdev->f_active & (CONSOLE_STDIN | CONSOLE_STDOUT)))
-			break;
+	cdev = console_get_first_active();
 	if (cdev)
 		sprintf(sername, "serial%d", cdev->dev->id);
 	else
diff --git a/commands/loadb.c b/commands/loadb.c
index a2f3315..b527e00 100644
--- a/commands/loadb.c
+++ b/commands/loadb.c
@@ -591,26 +591,6 @@
 }
 
 /**
- * @brief returns current used console device
- *
- * @return console device which is registered with CONSOLE_STDIN and
- * CONSOLE_STDOUT
- */
-static struct console_device *get_current_console(void)
-{
-	struct console_device *cdev;
-	/*
-	 * Assumption to have BOTH CONSOLE_STDIN AND STDOUT in the
-	 * same output console
-	 */
-	for_each_console(cdev) {
-		if ((cdev->f_active & (CONSOLE_STDIN | CONSOLE_STDOUT)))
-			return cdev;
-	}
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-/**
  * @brief provide the loadb(Kermit) or loadY mode support
  *
  * @param cmdtp
@@ -650,7 +630,7 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	cdev = get_current_console();
+	cdev = console_get_first_active();
 	if (NULL == cdev) {
 		printf("%s:No console device with STDIN and STDOUT\n", argv[0]);
 		return -ENODEV;
diff --git a/commands/loadxy.c b/commands/loadxy.c
index 52ecdca..7a91286 100644
--- a/commands/loadxy.c
+++ b/commands/loadxy.c
@@ -40,26 +40,6 @@
 
 #define DEF_FILE	"image.bin"
 
-/**
- * @brief returns current used console device
- *
- * @return console device which is registered with CONSOLE_STDIN and
- * CONSOLE_STDOUT
- */
-static struct console_device *get_current_console(void)
-{
-	struct console_device *cdev;
-	/*
-	 * Assumption to have BOTH CONSOLE_STDIN AND STDOUT in the
-	 * same output console
-	 */
-	for_each_console(cdev) {
-		if ((cdev->f_active & (CONSOLE_STDIN | CONSOLE_STDOUT)))
-			return cdev;
-	}
-	return NULL;
-}
-
 static int console_change_speed(struct console_device *cdev, int baudrate)
 {
 	int current_baudrate;
@@ -134,7 +114,7 @@
 	if (cname)
 		cdev = get_named_console(cname);
 	else
-		cdev = get_current_console();
+		cdev = console_get_first_active();
 	if (!cdev) {
 		printf("%s:No console device %s with STDIN and STDOUT\n",
 		       argv[0], cname ? cname : "default");
@@ -202,7 +182,7 @@
 	if (cname)
 		cdev = get_named_console(cname);
 	else
-		cdev = get_current_console();
+		cdev = console_get_first_active();
 	if (!cdev) {
 		printf("%s:No console device %s with STDIN and STDOUT\n",
 		       argv[0], cname ? cname : "default");
diff --git a/common/console_common.c b/common/console_common.c
index d139d1a..a3aca6f 100644
--- a/common/console_common.c
+++ b/common/console_common.c
@@ -108,3 +108,25 @@
 	return 0;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(fputc);
+
+/*
+ * @brief returns current used console device
+ *
+ * @return console device which is registered with CONSOLE_STDIN and
+ * CONSOLE_STDOUT
+ */
+struct console_device *console_get_first_active(void)
+{
+	struct console_device *cdev;
+	/*
+	 * Assumption to have BOTH CONSOLE_STDIN AND STDOUT in the
+	 * same output console
+	 */
+	for_each_console(cdev) {
+		if ((cdev->f_active & (CONSOLE_STDIN | CONSOLE_STDOUT)))
+			return cdev;
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(console_get_first_active);
diff --git a/include/console.h b/include/console.h
index 56e0484..707ba92 100644
--- a/include/console.h
+++ b/include/console.h
@@ -53,4 +53,6 @@
 
 #define CFG_PBSIZE (CONFIG_CBSIZE+sizeof(CONFIG_PROMPT)+16)
 
+struct console_device *console_get_first_active(void);
+
 #endif