diff --git a/include/linux/kernel.h b/include/linux/kernel.h
--- a/include/linux/kernel.h
+++ b/include/linux/kernel.h
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ extern const char linux_banner[];
 #define ARRAY_SIZE(x) (sizeof(x) / sizeof((x)[0]))
 #define ALIGN(x,a) (((x)+(a)-1)&~((a)-1))
 
+/*
+ * BIT macro that also handles a possible overflow
+ */
+#define BITS(x) (1UL << ((x) % BITS_PER_LONG))
+
 #define	KERN_EMERG	"<0>"	/* system is unusable			*/
 #define	KERN_ALERT	"<1>"	/* action must be taken immediately	*/
 #define	KERN_CRIT	"<2>"	/* critical conditions			*/