diff --git a/src/rgw/driver/sfs/sqlite/errors.cc b/src/rgw/driver/sfs/sqlite/errors.cc
index e3b67002797fe..7440d528f6c03 100644
--- a/src/rgw/driver/sfs/sqlite/errors.cc
+++ b/src/rgw/driver/sfs/sqlite/errors.cc
@@ -42,4 +42,16 @@ bool critical_error(int ec) {
   }
 }
 
+bool busy_error(int ec) {
+  switch (ec) {
+    case SQLITE_BUSY:
+    case SQLITE_BUSY_RECOVERY:
+    case SQLITE_BUSY_SNAPSHOT:
+    case SQLITE_LOCKED:
+      return true;
+    default:
+      return false;
+  }
+}
+
 }  // namespace rgw::sal::sfs::sqlite
diff --git a/src/rgw/driver/sfs/sqlite/errors.h b/src/rgw/driver/sfs/sqlite/errors.h
index f430ee8a8cbf7..6fa87fe8ff8c0 100644
--- a/src/rgw/driver/sfs/sqlite/errors.h
+++ b/src/rgw/driver/sfs/sqlite/errors.h
@@ -16,5 +16,6 @@
 namespace rgw::sal::sfs::sqlite {
 
 bool critical_error(int ec);
+bool busy_error(int ec);
 
-}
+}  // namespace rgw::sal::sfs::sqlite