1 files changed, 8 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/src/cryptography/hazmat/backends/__init__.py b/src/cryptography/hazmat/backends/__init__.py
index 565bde788..1563936dd 100644
--- a/src/cryptography/hazmat/backends/__init__.py
+++ b/src/cryptography/hazmat/backends/__init__.py
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@ def default_backend():
 
     if _default_backend is None:
         from cryptography.hazmat.backends.openssl.backend import backend
+
         _default_backend = backend
 
     return _default_backend
+
+
+def _get_backend(backend):
+    if backend is None:
+        return default_backend()
+    else:
+        return backend