diff --git a/src/kernel/level.cpp b/src/kernel/level.cpp
index 1545475ce..451dd791c 100644
--- a/src/kernel/level.cpp
+++ b/src/kernel/level.cpp
@@ -659,5 +659,28 @@ bool is_equivalent(level const & lhs, level const & rhs) {
     check_system("level constraints");
     return lhs == rhs || normalize(lhs) == normalize(rhs);
 }
+
+bool is_geq_core(level l1, level l2) {
+    if (l1 == l2)
+        return true;
+    if (is_max(l2))
+        return is_geq(l1, max_lhs(l2)) && is_geq(l1, max_rhs(l2));
+    if (is_imax(l2))
+        return is_geq(l1, imax_lhs(l2)) && is_geq(l1, imax_rhs(l2));
+    if (is_max(l1))
+        return is_geq(max_lhs(l1), l2) || is_geq(max_rhs(l1), l2);
+    if (is_imax(l1))
+        return is_geq(imax_rhs(l1), l2);
+    auto p1 = to_offset(l1);
+    auto p2 = to_offset(l2);
+    if (p1.first == p2.first)
+        return p1.second >= p2.second;
+    if (p1.second == p2.second && p1.second > 0)
+        return is_geq(p1.first, p2.first);
+    return false;
+}
+bool is_geq(level const & l1, level const & l2) {
+    return is_geq_core(normalize(l1), normalize(l2));
+}
 }
 void print(lean::level const & l) { std::cout << l << std::endl; }
diff --git a/src/kernel/level.h b/src/kernel/level.h
index 4405d3cd2..4ca617663 100644
--- a/src/kernel/level.h
+++ b/src/kernel/level.h
@@ -144,6 +144,17 @@ bool is_equivalent(level const & lhs, level const & rhs);
 /** \brief Return the given level expression normal form */
 level normalize(level const & l);
 
+/**
+   \brief If the result is true, then forall assignments \c A that assigns all parameters, globals and metavariables occuring
+   in \c l1 and \l2, we have that the universe level l1[A] is bigger or equal to l2[A].
+
+   \remark This function assumes l1 and l2 are normalized
+*/
+bool is_geq_core(level l1, level l2);
+
+bool is_geq(level const & l1, level const & l2);
+
+
 typedef list<level> levels;
 
 bool has_meta(levels const & ls);
@@ -192,8 +203,8 @@ level instantiate(level const & l, level_param_names const & ps, levels const &
 std::ostream & operator<<(std::ostream & out, level const & l);
 
 /**
-   \brief If the result is true, then forall assignments \c A that assigns all parameters and metavariables occuring
-   in \c l, eval(A, l) != zero.
+   \brief If the result is true, then forall assignments \c A that assigns all parameters, globals and metavariables occuring
+   in \c l, l[A] != zero.
 */
 bool is_not_zero(level const & l);