diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_thread.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_thread.c
index 7feaf55ee..6e0f970af 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_thread.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/rte_thread.c
@@ -220,6 +220,30 @@ rte_thread_join(rte_thread_t thread_id, int *value_ptr)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+int
+rte_thread_mutex_init(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex)
+{
+	return pthread_mutex_init(mutex, NULL);
+}
+
+int
+rte_thread_mutex_lock(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex)
+{
+	return pthread_mutex_lock(mutex);
+}
+
+int
+rte_thread_mutex_unlock(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex)
+{
+	return pthread_mutex_unlock(mutex);
+}
+
+int
+rte_thread_mutex_destroy(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex)
+{
+	return pthread_mutex_destroy(mutex);
+}
+
 int rte_thread_cancel(rte_thread_t thread_id)
 {
 	/*
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_thread.h b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_thread.h
index 806dd8780..b72f4818e 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_thread.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_thread.h
@@ -238,6 +238,61 @@ int rte_thread_create(rte_thread_t *thread_id,
 __rte_experimental
 int rte_thread_join(rte_thread_t thread_id, int *value_ptr);
 
+/**
+ * Initializes a mutex.
+ *
+ * @param mutex
+ *    The mutex to be initialized.
+ *
+ * @param attr
+ *    Attributes for initialization of the mutex.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   On success, return 0.
+ *   On failure, return a positive errno-style error number.
+ */
+__rte_experimental
+int rte_thread_mutex_init(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex);
+
+/**
+ * Locks a mutex.
+ *
+ * @param mutex
+ *    The mutex to be locked.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   On success, return 0.
+ *   On failure, return a positive errno-style error number.
+ */
+__rte_experimental
+int rte_thread_mutex_lock(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex);
+
+/**
+ * Unlocks a mutex.
+ *
+ * @param mutex
+ *    The mutex to be unlocked.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   On success, return 0.
+ *   On failure, return a positive errno-style error number.
+ */
+__rte_experimental
+int rte_thread_mutex_unlock(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex);
+
+/**
+ * Releases all resources associated with a mutex.
+ *
+ * @param mutex
+ *    The mutex to be uninitialized.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   On success, return 0.
+ *   On failure, return a positive errno-style error number.
+ */
+__rte_experimental
+int rte_thread_mutex_destroy(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex);
+
 /**
  * Terminates a thread.
  *
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_thread_types.h b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_thread_types.h
index a884daf17..37bc7af2b 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_thread_types.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/include/rte_thread_types.h
@@ -7,9 +7,12 @@
 
 #include <pthread.h>
 
+#define RTE_THREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER     PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER
+
 #define EAL_THREAD_PRIORITY_NORMAL               0
 #define EAL_THREAD_PRIORITY_REALTIME_CIRTICAL    99
 
 typedef pthread_t                       rte_thread_t;
+typedef pthread_mutex_t                 rte_thread_mutex_t;
 
 #endif /* _RTE_THREAD_TYPES_H_ */
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/windows/include/rte_windows_thread_types.h b/lib/librte_eal/windows/include/rte_windows_thread_types.h
index 8cb4b3856..47c6b2664 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/windows/include/rte_windows_thread_types.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/windows/include/rte_windows_thread_types.h
@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@
 #define EAL_THREAD_PRIORITY_REALTIME_CIRTICAL  THREAD_PRIORITY_TIME_CRITICAL
 
 typedef DWORD                       rte_thread_t;
+typedef CRITICAL_SECTION            rte_thread_mutex_t;
 
 #endif /* _RTE_THREAD_TYPES_H_ */
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/windows/rte_thread.c b/lib/librte_eal/windows/rte_thread.c
index c42f0ea93..8a2c7691a 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/windows/rte_thread.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/windows/rte_thread.c
@@ -417,6 +417,34 @@ rte_thread_join(rte_thread_t thread_id, int *value_ptr)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+int
+rte_thread_mutex_init(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex)
+{
+	InitializeCriticalSection(mutex);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int
+rte_thread_mutex_lock(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex)
+{
+	EnterCriticalSection(mutex);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int
+rte_thread_mutex_unlock(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex)
+{
+	LeaveCriticalSection(mutex);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int
+rte_thread_mutex_destroy(rte_thread_mutex_t *mutex)
+{
+	DeleteCriticalSection(mutex);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 int
 rte_thread_cancel(rte_thread_t thread_id)
 {
