diff --git a/lib/kernel.nix b/lib/kernel.nix
index bfadf148be25..2ce19f8cb68c 100644
--- a/lib/kernel.nix
+++ b/lib/kernel.nix
@@ -13,4 +13,14 @@ with lib;
   module   = { tristate    = "m"; };
   freeform = x: { freeform = x; };
 
+  /*
+    Common patterns/legacy used in common-config/hardened-config.nix
+   */
+  whenHelpers = version: {
+    whenAtLeast = ver: mkIf (versionAtLeast version ver);
+    whenOlder   = ver: mkIf (versionOlder version ver);
+    # range is (inclusive, exclusive)
+    whenBetween = verLow: verHigh: mkIf (versionAtLeast version verLow && versionOlder version verHigh);
+  };
+
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
index d414a0842624..126e534520ce 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
@@ -17,13 +17,9 @@
 
 with stdenv.lib;
 with stdenv.lib.kernel;
+with (stdenv.lib.kernel.whenHelpers version);
 
 let
-  # Common patterns/legacy
-  whenAtLeast = ver: mkIf (versionAtLeast version ver);
-  whenOlder   = ver: mkIf (versionOlder version ver);
-  # range is (inclusive, exclusive)
-  whenBetween = verLow: verHigh: mkIf (versionAtLeast version verLow && versionOlder version verHigh);
 
 
   # configuration items have to be part of a subattrs
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/hardened-config.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/hardened-config.nix
index b72994d6dd6e..b28ce770f7a9 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/hardened-config.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/hardened-config.nix
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 
 with stdenv.lib;
 with stdenv.lib.kernel;
+with (stdenv.lib.kernel.whenHelpers version);
+
 assert (versionAtLeast version "4.9");
 
 optionalAttrs (stdenv.hostPlatform.platform.kernelArch == "x86_64") {