diff --git a/nimble/host/include/host/ble_gap.h b/nimble/host/include/host/ble_gap.h
index fd70b94af..d884596a6 100644
--- a/nimble/host/include/host/ble_gap.h
+++ b/nimble/host/include/host/ble_gap.h
@@ -1692,6 +1692,14 @@ int ble_gap_ext_adv_clear(void);
  *
  */
 int ble_gap_ext_adv_active(uint8_t instance);
+
+/**
+ * Returns first not configured advertising instance.
+ *
+ * @return advertising instance if one was found, negative error code otherwise
+ *
+ */
+int ble_gap_adv_get_free_instance(void);
 #endif
 
 /* Periodic Advertising */
diff --git a/nimble/host/src/ble_gap.c b/nimble/host/src/ble_gap.c
index 015a70d87..02e4f2888 100644
--- a/nimble/host/src/ble_gap.c
+++ b/nimble/host/src/ble_gap.c
@@ -1390,6 +1390,20 @@ int ble_gap_ext_adv_active(uint8_t instance)
     }
     return ble_gap_adv_active_instance(instance);
 }
+
+int
+ble_gap_adv_get_free_instance(void)
+{
+    int i;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < BLE_ADV_INSTANCES; i++) {
+        if (!ble_gap_slave[i].configured) {
+            return i;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return -BLE_HS_ENOENT;
+}
 #endif
 
 /**