diff --git a/tools/gdb/utils.py b/tools/gdb/utils.py
index 2381e0916e..2e49b2cf6c 100644
--- a/tools/gdb/utils.py
+++ b/tools/gdb/utils.py
@@ -179,3 +179,10 @@ def is_target_smp():
         return True
     else:
         return False
+
+
+def get_symbol_value(name):
+    """Return the value of a symbol value etc: Variable, Marco"""
+
+    gdb.execute("set $_%s = %s" % (name, name))
+    return gdb.parse_and_eval("$_%s" % name)