diff --git a/include/ipc/ipc_service.h b/include/ipc/ipc_service.h
index 6755f3ccc83..0cf631aa188 100644
--- a/include/ipc/ipc_service.h
+++ b/include/ipc/ipc_service.h
@@ -116,6 +116,21 @@ struct ipc_ept_cfg {
 	void *priv;
 };
 
+/** @brief Open an instance
+ *
+ *  Function to be used to open an instance before being able to register a new
+ *  endpoint on it.
+ *
+ *  @retval -EINVAL when instance configuration is invalid.
+ *  @retval -EIO when no backend is registered.
+ *  @retval -EALREADY when the instance is already opened (or being opened).
+ *
+ *  @retval 0 on success or when not implemented on the backend (not needed).
+ *  @retval other errno codes depending on the implementation of the backend.
+ */
+int ipc_service_open_instance(const struct device *instance);
+
+
 /** @brief Register IPC endpoint onto an instance.
  *
  *  Registers IPC endpoint onto an instance to enable communication with a
diff --git a/include/ipc/ipc_service_backend.h b/include/ipc/ipc_service_backend.h
index 486d3cc98b4..53e546d49cf 100644
--- a/include/ipc/ipc_service_backend.h
+++ b/include/ipc/ipc_service_backend.h
@@ -25,6 +25,18 @@ extern "C" {
  *  This structure is used for configuration backend during registration.
  */
 struct ipc_service_backend {
+	/** @brief Pointer to the function that will be used to open an instance
+	 *
+	 *  @param instance Instance pointer.
+	 *
+	 *  @retval -EALREADY when the instance is already opened.
+	 *
+	 *  @retval 0 on success
+	 *  @retval other errno codes depending on the implementation of the
+	 *	    backend.
+	 */
+	int (*open_instance)(const struct device *instance);
+
 	/** @brief Pointer to the function that will be used to send data to the endpoint.
 	 *
 	 *  @param instance Instance pointer.
diff --git a/subsys/ipc/ipc_service/ipc_service.c b/subsys/ipc/ipc_service/ipc_service.c
index 040223bc4e3..ca3efb34ac5 100644
--- a/subsys/ipc/ipc_service/ipc_service.c
+++ b/subsys/ipc/ipc_service/ipc_service.c
@@ -14,6 +14,30 @@
 
 LOG_MODULE_REGISTER(ipc_service, CONFIG_IPC_SERVICE_LOG_LEVEL);
 
+int ipc_service_open_instance(const struct device *instance)
+{
+	const struct ipc_service_backend *backend;
+
+	if (!instance) {
+		LOG_ERR("Invalid instance");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	backend = (const struct ipc_service_backend *) instance->api;
+
+	if (!backend) {
+		LOG_ERR("Invalid backend configuration");
+		return -EIO;
+	}
+
+	if (!backend->open_instance) {
+		/* maybe not needed on backend */
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	return backend->open_instance(instance);
+}
+
 int ipc_service_register_endpoint(const struct device *instance,
 				  struct ipc_ept *ept,
 				  const struct ipc_ept_cfg *cfg)