diff --git a/os/kernel/include/chvt.h b/os/kernel/include/chvt.h
index c677689af..c1b246cd3 100644
--- a/os/kernel/include/chvt.h
+++ b/os/kernel/include/chvt.h
@@ -207,6 +207,32 @@ typedef struct {
  * @api
  */
 #define chTimeNow() (vtlist.vt_systime)
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Returns the elapsed time since the specified start time.
+ *
+ * @param[in] start     start time
+ * @return              The elapsed time.
+ *
+ * @api
+ */
+#define chTimeElapsedSince(start) (chTimeNow() - (start))
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Checks if the current system time is within the specified time
+ *          window.
+ * @note    When start==end then the function returns always true because the
+ *          whole time range is specified.
+ *
+ * @param[in] start     the start of the time window (inclusive)
+ * @param[in] end       the end of the time window (non inclusive)
+ * @retval TRUE         current time within the specified time window.
+ * @retval FALSE        current time not within the specified time window.
+ *
+ * @api
+ */
+#define chTimeIsWithin(start, end)                                          \
+  (chTimeElapsedSince(start) < ((end) - (start)))
 /** @} */
 
 extern VTList vtlist;
@@ -220,7 +246,6 @@ extern "C" {
   void _vt_init(void);
   void chVTSetI(VirtualTimer *vtp, systime_t time, vtfunc_t vtfunc, void *par);
   void chVTResetI(VirtualTimer *vtp);
-  bool_t chTimeIsWithin(systime_t start, systime_t end);
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/os/kernel/src/chvt.c b/os/kernel/src/chvt.c
index a8e3ce499..f2d6cd697 100644
--- a/os/kernel/src/chvt.c
+++ b/os/kernel/src/chvt.c
@@ -111,24 +111,4 @@ void chVTResetI(VirtualTimer *vtp) {
   vtp->vt_func = (vtfunc_t)NULL;
 }
 
-/**
- * @brief   Checks if the current system time is within the specified time
- *          window.
- * @note    When start==end then the function returns always true because the
- *          whole time range is specified.
- *
- * @param[in] start     the start of the time window (inclusive)
- * @param[in] end       the end of the time window (non inclusive)
- * @retval TRUE         current time within the specified time window.
- * @retval FALSE        current time not within the specified time window.
- *
- * @api
- */
-bool_t chTimeIsWithin(systime_t start, systime_t end) {
-
-  systime_t time = chTimeNow();
-  return end > start ? (time >= start) && (time < end) :
-                       (time >= start) || (time < end);
-}
-
 /** @} */
diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index 140faa831..4317f462f 100644
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@
   (backported to 2.6.0).
 - FIX: Fixed MS2ST() and US2ST() macros error (bug #415)(backported to 2.6.0,
   2.4.4, 2.2.10, NilRTOS).
+- NEW: Improved time range check in the kernel, new API chTimeElapsedSince()
+  introduced. The API chTimeIsWithin() is now a macro.
 - NEW: Added a new function shellExit() to the shell. It allows to exit the
   shell from any command handler.
 - NEW: Added support for STM32F401/STM32F42x/STM32F43x devices.