diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
index 82e5dc4277..075ca88ab5 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
@@ -856,3 +856,17 @@ def to_boolean(string, default=None):
         return False
     else:
         raise ValueError("Invalid value for to_boolean: %s" % string)
+
+def contains(variable, checkvalues, truevalue, falsevalue, d):
+    val = d.getVar(variable, True)
+    if not val:
+        return falsevalue
+    matches = 0
+    if type(checkvalues).__name__ == "str":
+        checkvalues = [checkvalues]
+    for value in checkvalues:
+        if val.find(value) != -1:
+            matches = matches + 1
+    if matches == len(checkvalues):
+        return truevalue
+    return falsevalue