diff --git a/include/sys/sem.h b/include/sys/sem.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..53d9f0434b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/sys/sem.h
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2019 Intel Corporation
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ *
+ * @brief public sys_sem APIs.
+ */
+
+#ifndef ZEPHYR_INCLUDE_SYS_SEM_H_
+#define ZEPHYR_INCLUDE_SYS_SEM_H_
+
+/*
+ * sys_sem exists in user memory working as counter semaphore for
+ * user mode thread when user mode enabled. When user mode isn't
+ * enabled, sys_sem behaves like k_sem.
+ */
+
+#include <kernel.h>
+#include <atomic.h>
+#include <zephyr/types.h>
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * sys_sem structure
+ */
+struct sys_sem {
+#ifdef CONFIG_USERSPACE
+	struct k_futex futex;
+	int limit;
+#else
+	struct k_sem kernel_sem;
+#endif
+};
+
+/**
+ * @brief Initialize a semaphore.
+ *
+ * This routine initializes a semaphore instance, prior to its first use.
+ *
+ * @param sem Address of the semaphore.
+ * @param initial_count Initial semaphore count.
+ * @param limit Maximum permitted semaphore count.
+ *
+ * @retval 0 Initial success.
+ * @retval -EINVAL Bad parameters, the value of limit should be located in
+ *         (0, INT_MAX] and initial_count shouldn't be greater than limit.
+ */
+int sys_sem_init(struct sys_sem *sem, unsigned int initial_count,
+		unsigned int limit);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Give a semaphore.
+ *
+ * This routine gives @a sem, unless the semaphore is already at its
+ * maximum permitted count.
+ *
+ * @param sem Address of the semaphore.
+ *
+ * @retval 0 Semaphore given.
+ * @retval -EINVAL Parameter address not recognized.
+ * @retval -EACCES Caller does not have enough access.
+ * @retval -EAGAIN Count reached Maximum permitted count and try again.
+ */
+int sys_sem_give(struct sys_sem *sem);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Take a sys_sem.
+ *
+ * This routine takes @a sem.
+ *
+ * @param sem Address of the sys_sem.
+ * @param timeout Waiting period to take the sys_sem (in milliseconds),
+ *                or one of the special values K_NO_WAIT and K_FOREVER.
+ *
+ * @retval 0 sys_sem taken.
+ * @retval -EINVAL Parameter address not recognized.
+ * @retval -ETIMEDOUT Waiting period timed out.
+ * @retval -EACCES Caller does not have enough access.
+ */
+int sys_sem_take(struct sys_sem *sem, s32_t timeout);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Get sys_sem's value
+ *
+ * This routine returns the current value of @a sem.
+ *
+ * @param sem Address of the sys_sem.
+ *
+ * @return Current value of sys_sem.
+ */
+unsigned int sys_sem_count_get(struct sys_sem *sem);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif
diff --git a/lib/os/CMakeLists.txt b/lib/os/CMakeLists.txt
index 26c349ab9f9..1640873f5fc 100644
--- a/lib/os/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lib/os/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ zephyr_sources(
   hex.c
   mempool.c
   rb.c
+  sem.c
   thread_entry.c
   timeutil.c
   work_q.c
diff --git a/lib/os/sem.c b/lib/os/sem.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c5e7b279570
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/os/sem.c
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2019 Intel Corporation
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+#include <sys/sem.h>
+#include <syscall_handler.h>
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_USERSPACE
+#define SYS_SEM_MINIMUN      0
+#define SYS_SEM_CONTENDED    (SYS_SEM_MINIMUN - 1)
+
+static inline atomic_t bounded_dec(atomic_t *val, atomic_t minimum)
+{
+	atomic_t old_value, new_value;
+
+	do {
+		old_value = atomic_get(val);
+		if (old_value < minimum) {
+			break;
+		}
+
+		new_value = old_value - 1;
+	} while (atomic_cas(val, old_value, new_value) == 0);
+
+	return old_value;
+}
+
+static inline atomic_t bounded_inc(atomic_t *val, atomic_t minimum,
+		atomic_t maximum)
+{
+	atomic_t old_value, new_value;
+
+	do {
+		old_value = atomic_get(val);
+		if (old_value >= maximum) {
+			break;
+		}
+
+		new_value = old_value < minimum ?
+				minimum + 1 : old_value + 1;
+	} while (atomic_cas(val, old_value, new_value) == 0);
+
+	return old_value;
+}
+
+int sys_sem_init(struct sys_sem *sem, unsigned int initial_count,
+		unsigned int limit)
+{
+	if (sem == NULL || limit == SYS_SEM_MINIMUN ||
+	    initial_count > limit || limit > INT_MAX) {
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	atomic_set(&sem->futex.val, initial_count);
+	sem->limit = limit;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int sys_sem_give(struct sys_sem *sem)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	atomic_t old_value;
+
+	old_value = bounded_inc(&sem->futex.val,
+				SYS_SEM_MINIMUN, sem->limit);
+	if (old_value < 0) {
+		ret = k_futex_wake(&sem->futex, true);
+
+		if (ret > 0) {
+			return 0;
+		}
+	} else if (old_value >= sem->limit) {
+		return -EAGAIN;
+	}
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+int sys_sem_take(struct sys_sem *sem, s32_t timeout)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	atomic_t old_value;
+
+	do {
+		old_value = bounded_dec(&sem->futex.val,
+					SYS_SEM_MINIMUN);
+		if (old_value > 0) {
+			return 0;
+		}
+
+		ret = k_futex_wait(&sem->futex,
+				SYS_SEM_CONTENDED, timeout);
+	} while (ret == 0 || ret == -EAGAIN);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+unsigned int sys_sem_count_get(struct sys_sem *sem)
+{
+	int value = atomic_get(&sem->futex.val);
+
+	return value > SYS_SEM_MINIMUN ? value : SYS_SEM_MINIMUN;
+}
+#else
+int sys_sem_init(struct sys_sem *sem, unsigned int initial_count,
+		unsigned int limit)
+{
+	k_sem_init(&sem->kernel_sem, initial_count, limit);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int sys_sem_give(struct sys_sem *sem)
+{
+	k_sem_give(&sem->kernel_sem);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int sys_sem_take(struct sys_sem *sem, s32_t timeout)
+{
+	int ret_value = 0;
+
+	ret_value = k_sem_take(&sem->kernel_sem, timeout);
+	if (ret_value == -EAGAIN || ret_value == -EBUSY) {
+		ret_value = -ETIMEDOUT;
+	}
+
+	return ret_value;
+}
+
+unsigned int sys_sem_count_get(struct sys_sem *sem)
+{
+	return k_sem_count_get(&sem->kernel_sem);
+}
+#endif