diff --git a/include/zephyr/spinlock.h b/include/zephyr/spinlock.h
index d97bda761d..823ff7eea6 100644
--- a/include/zephyr/spinlock.h
+++ b/include/zephyr/spinlock.h
@@ -265,6 +265,20 @@ static ALWAYS_INLINE void k_spin_unlock(struct k_spinlock *l,
  * @cond INTERNAL_HIDDEN
  */
 
+#if defined(CONFIG_SMP) && defined(CONFIG_TEST)
+/*
+ * @brief Checks if spinlock is held by some CPU, including the local CPU.
+ *		This API shouldn't be used outside the tests for spinlock
+ *
+ * @param l A pointer to the spinlock
+ * @retval true - if spinlock is held by some CPU; false - otherwise
+ */
+static ALWAYS_INLINE bool z_spin_is_locked(struct k_spinlock *l)
+{
+	return l->locked;
+}
+#endif
+
 /* Internal function: releases the lock, but leaves local interrupts disabled */
 static ALWAYS_INLINE void k_spin_release(struct k_spinlock *l)
 {
diff --git a/tests/kernel/spinlock/src/main.c b/tests/kernel/spinlock/src/main.c
index 88d3ba8733..656e986d4c 100644
--- a/tests/kernel/spinlock/src/main.c
+++ b/tests/kernel/spinlock/src/main.c
@@ -44,15 +44,15 @@ ZTEST(spinlock, test_spinlock_basic)
 	k_spinlock_key_t key;
 	static struct k_spinlock l;
 
-	zassert_true(!l.locked, "Spinlock initialized to locked");
+	zassert_true(!z_spin_is_locked(&l), "Spinlock initialized to locked");
 
 	key = k_spin_lock(&l);
 
-	zassert_true(l.locked, "Spinlock failed to lock");
+	zassert_true(z_spin_is_locked(&l), "Spinlock failed to lock");
 
 	k_spin_unlock(&l, key);
 
-	zassert_true(!l.locked, "Spinlock failed to unlock");
+	zassert_true(!z_spin_is_locked(&l), "Spinlock failed to unlock");
 }
 
 void bounce_once(int id, bool trylock)
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ ZTEST(spinlock, test_spinlock_mutual_exclusion)
 
 	key = k_spin_lock(&lock_runtime);
 
-	zassert_true(lock_runtime.locked, "Spinlock failed to lock");
+	zassert_true(z_spin_is_locked(&lock_runtime), "Spinlock failed to lock");
 
 	/* check irq has not locked */
 	zassert_true(arch_irq_unlocked(key.key),
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ ZTEST(spinlock, test_spinlock_mutual_exclusion)
 
 	k_spin_unlock(&lock_runtime, key);
 
-	zassert_true(!lock_runtime.locked, "Spinlock failed to unlock");
+	zassert_true(!z_spin_is_locked(&lock_runtime), "Spinlock failed to unlock");
 }
 
 void trylock_fn(void *p1, void *p2, void *p3)