diff --git a/common/utils/itti/intertask_interface_types.h b/common/utils/itti/intertask_interface_types.h
index f7c8d4e582..4a41f6d8c0 100644
--- a/common/utils/itti/intertask_interface_types.h
+++ b/common/utils/itti/intertask_interface_types.h
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@
 
 /* Defines to extract task ID fields */
 #define TASK_GET_THREAD_ID(tASKiD)          (itti_desc.tasks_info[tASKiD].thread)
+/* Extract the instance from a message */
+#define ITTI_MESSAGE_GET_INSTANCE(mESSAGE)  ((mESSAGE)->header.instance)
 
 #include <messages_types.h>