diff --git a/src/frontend/inpcom.c b/src/frontend/inpcom.c
index ddedec216..de2d170c9 100644
--- a/src/frontend/inpcom.c
+++ b/src/frontend/inpcom.c
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ static char *inp_pathresolve_at(char *name, char *dir);
 static char *search_plain_identifier(char *str, const char *identifier);
 void tprint(struct line *deck, int numb);
 static void inp_add_levels(struct line *deck);
+bool inp_check_scope_mod(unsigned short elem_level[], unsigned short mod_level[]);
 
 struct inp_read_t
 { struct line *cc;
@@ -6775,3 +6776,21 @@ inp_add_levels(struct line *deck)
         }
     }
 }
+
+
+/* return TRUE if element is within scope of model */
+bool
+inp_check_scope_mod(unsigned short elem_level[], unsigned short mod_level[])
+{
+    int i;
+    /* model at top level, accessible from all devices */
+    if (mod_level[0] == 0)
+        return TRUE;
+    /* model at nesting level */
+    for (i = 0; i < NESTINGDEPTH - 1; i++)
+        if ((elem_level[i] > 0) && (elem_level[i] == mod_level[i]) && (mod_level[i + 1] == 0))
+            return TRUE;
+    if ((elem_level[NESTINGDEPTH - 1] > 0) && (elem_level[NESTINGDEPTH - 1] == mod_level[NESTINGDEPTH - 1]))
+        return TRUE;
+    return FALSE;
+}