diff --git a/cmd/zdb/Makefile.am b/cmd/zdb/Makefile.am
index c93c9c37cd8d..ebdc19128e1a 100644
--- a/cmd/zdb/Makefile.am
+++ b/cmd/zdb/Makefile.am
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ zdb_SOURCES = \
 	%D%/zdb_il.c
 
 zdb_LDADD = \
+	libzdb.la \
 	libzpool.la \
 	libzfs_core.la \
 	libnvpair.la
diff --git a/cmd/zdb/zdb.c b/cmd/zdb/zdb.c
index 2062f4fa1026..afdc5a2c8b54 100644
--- a/cmd/zdb/zdb.c
+++ b/cmd/zdb/zdb.c
@@ -88,36 +88,10 @@
 #include <libnvpair.h>
 #include <libzutil.h>
 
+#include <libzdb.h>
+
 #include "zdb.h"
 
-#define	ZDB_COMPRESS_NAME(idx) ((idx) < ZIO_COMPRESS_FUNCTIONS ?	\
-	zio_compress_table[(idx)].ci_name : "UNKNOWN")
-#define	ZDB_CHECKSUM_NAME(idx) ((idx) < ZIO_CHECKSUM_FUNCTIONS ?	\
-	zio_checksum_table[(idx)].ci_name : "UNKNOWN")
-#define	ZDB_OT_TYPE(idx) ((idx) < DMU_OT_NUMTYPES ? (idx) :		\
-	(idx) == DMU_OTN_ZAP_DATA || (idx) == DMU_OTN_ZAP_METADATA ?	\
-	DMU_OT_ZAP_OTHER : \
-	(idx) == DMU_OTN_UINT64_DATA || (idx) == DMU_OTN_UINT64_METADATA ? \
-	DMU_OT_UINT64_OTHER : DMU_OT_NUMTYPES)
-
-/* Some platforms require part of inode IDs to be remapped */
-#ifdef __APPLE__
-#define	ZDB_MAP_OBJECT_ID(obj) INO_XNUTOZFS(obj, 2)
-#else
-#define	ZDB_MAP_OBJECT_ID(obj) (obj)
-#endif
-
-static const char *
-zdb_ot_name(dmu_object_type_t type)
-{
-	if (type < DMU_OT_NUMTYPES)
-		return (dmu_ot[type].ot_name);
-	else if ((type & DMU_OT_NEWTYPE) &&
-	    ((type & DMU_OT_BYTESWAP_MASK) < DMU_BSWAP_NUMFUNCS))
-		return (dmu_ot_byteswap[type & DMU_OT_BYTESWAP_MASK].ob_name);
-	else
-		return ("UNKNOWN");
-}
 
 extern int reference_tracking_enable;
 extern int zfs_recover;
@@ -135,35 +109,12 @@ typedef void object_viewer_t(objset_t *, uint64_t, void *data, size_t size);
 static uint64_t *zopt_metaslab = NULL;
 static unsigned zopt_metaslab_args = 0;
 
-typedef struct zopt_object_range {
-	uint64_t zor_obj_start;
-	uint64_t zor_obj_end;
-	uint64_t zor_flags;
-} zopt_object_range_t;
 
 static zopt_object_range_t *zopt_object_ranges = NULL;
 static unsigned zopt_object_args = 0;
 
 static int flagbits[256];
 
-#define	ZOR_FLAG_PLAIN_FILE	0x0001
-#define	ZOR_FLAG_DIRECTORY	0x0002
-#define	ZOR_FLAG_SPACE_MAP	0x0004
-#define	ZOR_FLAG_ZAP		0x0008
-#define	ZOR_FLAG_ALL_TYPES	-1
-#define	ZOR_SUPPORTED_FLAGS	(ZOR_FLAG_PLAIN_FILE	| \
-				ZOR_FLAG_DIRECTORY	| \
-				ZOR_FLAG_SPACE_MAP	| \
-				ZOR_FLAG_ZAP)
-
-#define	ZDB_FLAG_CHECKSUM	0x0001
-#define	ZDB_FLAG_DECOMPRESS	0x0002
-#define	ZDB_FLAG_BSWAP		0x0004
-#define	ZDB_FLAG_GBH		0x0008
-#define	ZDB_FLAG_INDIRECT	0x0010
-#define	ZDB_FLAG_RAW		0x0020
-#define	ZDB_FLAG_PRINT_BLKPTR	0x0040
-#define	ZDB_FLAG_VERBOSE	0x0080
 
 static uint64_t max_inflight_bytes = 256 * 1024 * 1024; /* 256MB */
 static int leaked_objects = 0;
@@ -176,62 +127,7 @@ static void mos_obj_refd_multiple(uint64_t);
 static int dump_bpobj_cb(void *arg, const blkptr_t *bp, boolean_t free,
     dmu_tx_t *tx);
 
-typedef struct sublivelist_verify {
-	/* FREE's that haven't yet matched to an ALLOC, in one sub-livelist */
-	zfs_btree_t sv_pair;
 
-	/* ALLOC's without a matching FREE, accumulates across sub-livelists */
-	zfs_btree_t sv_leftover;
-} sublivelist_verify_t;
-
-static int
-livelist_compare(const void *larg, const void *rarg)
-{
-	const blkptr_t *l = larg;
-	const blkptr_t *r = rarg;
-
-	/* Sort them according to dva[0] */
-	uint64_t l_dva0_vdev, r_dva0_vdev;
-	l_dva0_vdev = DVA_GET_VDEV(&l->blk_dva[0]);
-	r_dva0_vdev = DVA_GET_VDEV(&r->blk_dva[0]);
-	if (l_dva0_vdev < r_dva0_vdev)
-		return (-1);
-	else if (l_dva0_vdev > r_dva0_vdev)
-		return (+1);
-
-	/* if vdevs are equal, sort by offsets. */
-	uint64_t l_dva0_offset;
-	uint64_t r_dva0_offset;
-	l_dva0_offset = DVA_GET_OFFSET(&l->blk_dva[0]);
-	r_dva0_offset = DVA_GET_OFFSET(&r->blk_dva[0]);
-	if (l_dva0_offset < r_dva0_offset) {
-		return (-1);
-	} else if (l_dva0_offset > r_dva0_offset) {
-		return (+1);
-	}
-
-	/*
-	 * Since we're storing blkptrs without cancelling FREE/ALLOC pairs,
-	 * it's possible the offsets are equal. In that case, sort by txg
-	 */
-	if (l->blk_birth < r->blk_birth) {
-		return (-1);
-	} else if (l->blk_birth > r->blk_birth) {
-		return (+1);
-	}
-	return (0);
-}
-
-typedef struct sublivelist_verify_block {
-	dva_t svb_dva;
-
-	/*
-	 * We need this to check if the block marked as allocated
-	 * in the livelist was freed (and potentially reallocated)
-	 * in the metaslab spacemaps at a later TXG.
-	 */
-	uint64_t svb_allocated_txg;
-} sublivelist_verify_block_t;
 
 static void zdb_print_blkptr(const blkptr_t *bp, int flags);
 
diff --git a/include/Makefile.am b/include/Makefile.am
index 5f38f6ac6ddb..cb28a2d6c96c 100644
--- a/include/Makefile.am
+++ b/include/Makefile.am
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ USER_H = \
 	libuutil.h \
 	libuutil_common.h \
 	libuutil_impl.h \
+	libzdb.h \
 	libzfs.h \
 	libzfs_core.h \
 	libzfsbootenv.h \
diff --git a/include/libzdb.h b/include/libzdb.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ef910d0a2c5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/libzdb.h
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+#define	ZDB_COMPRESS_NAME(idx) ((idx) < ZIO_COMPRESS_FUNCTIONS ?	\
+	zio_compress_table[(idx)].ci_name : "UNKNOWN")
+#define	ZDB_CHECKSUM_NAME(idx) ((idx) < ZIO_CHECKSUM_FUNCTIONS ?	\
+	zio_checksum_table[(idx)].ci_name : "UNKNOWN")
+#define	ZDB_OT_TYPE(idx) ((idx) < DMU_OT_NUMTYPES ? (idx) :		\
+	(idx) == DMU_OTN_ZAP_DATA || (idx) == DMU_OTN_ZAP_METADATA ?	\
+	DMU_OT_ZAP_OTHER : \
+	(idx) == DMU_OTN_UINT64_DATA || (idx) == DMU_OTN_UINT64_METADATA ? \
+	DMU_OT_UINT64_OTHER : DMU_OT_NUMTYPES)
+
+/* Some platforms require part of inode IDs to be remapped */
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+#define	ZDB_MAP_OBJECT_ID(obj) INO_XNUTOZFS(obj, 2)
+#else
+#define	ZDB_MAP_OBJECT_ID(obj) (obj)
+#endif
+
+#define	ZOR_FLAG_PLAIN_FILE	0x0001
+#define	ZOR_FLAG_DIRECTORY	0x0002
+#define	ZOR_FLAG_SPACE_MAP	0x0004
+#define	ZOR_FLAG_ZAP		0x0008
+#define	ZOR_FLAG_ALL_TYPES	-1
+#define	ZOR_SUPPORTED_FLAGS	(ZOR_FLAG_PLAIN_FILE	| \
+				ZOR_FLAG_DIRECTORY	| \
+				ZOR_FLAG_SPACE_MAP	| \
+				ZOR_FLAG_ZAP)
+
+#define	ZDB_FLAG_CHECKSUM	0x0001
+#define	ZDB_FLAG_DECOMPRESS	0x0002
+#define	ZDB_FLAG_BSWAP		0x0004
+#define	ZDB_FLAG_GBH		0x0008
+#define	ZDB_FLAG_INDIRECT	0x0010
+#define	ZDB_FLAG_RAW		0x0020
+#define	ZDB_FLAG_PRINT_BLKPTR	0x0040
+#define	ZDB_FLAG_VERBOSE	0x0080
+
+
+typedef struct zdb_ctx {
+} zdb_ctx_t;
+
+typedef struct zopt_object_range {
+	uint64_t zor_obj_start;
+	uint64_t zor_obj_end;
+	uint64_t zor_flags;
+} zopt_object_range_t;
+
+
+typedef struct sublivelist_verify {
+	/* FREE's that haven't yet matched to an ALLOC, in one sub-livelist */
+	zfs_btree_t sv_pair;
+
+	/* ALLOC's without a matching FREE, accumulates across sub-livelists */
+	zfs_btree_t sv_leftover;
+} sublivelist_verify_t;
+
+typedef struct sublivelist_verify_block {
+	dva_t svb_dva;
+
+	/*
+	 * We need this to check if the block marked as allocated
+	 * in the livelist was freed (and potentially reallocated)
+	 * in the metaslab spacemaps at a later TXG.
+	 */
+	uint64_t svb_allocated_txg;
+} sublivelist_verify_block_t;
+
+const char *zdb_ot_name(dmu_object_type_t type);
+int livelist_compare(const void *larg, const void *rarg);
diff --git a/lib/Makefile.am b/lib/Makefile.am
index 499ebdaeba9b..050a6cac0a37 100644
--- a/lib/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/Makefile.am
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@
 # These library interfaces are subject to change at any time.
 #
 #
-# CMDS:   zhack/ztest/zdb/            zfs/zpool/zed/
+# CMDS:   zhack/ztest/                zfs/zpool/zed/
 #        raidz_{test,bench}          zinject/zstream
 #                |                          |
 # LIBS:          |                          |              libzfsbootenv*
-#                |                          |                    |
+#                |--libzdb--zdb             |                    |
 #                |                          |                    |
 #             libzpool                   libzfs* ----------------+
 #             | | |  \                  / | | |
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ include $(srcdir)/%D%/libspl/Makefile.am
 include $(srcdir)/%D%/libtpool/Makefile.am
 include $(srcdir)/%D%/libunicode/Makefile.am
 include $(srcdir)/%D%/libuutil/Makefile.am
+include $(srcdir)/%D%/libzdb/Makefile.am
 include $(srcdir)/%D%/libzfs_core/Makefile.am
 include $(srcdir)/%D%/libzfs/Makefile.am
 include $(srcdir)/%D%/libzfsbootenv/Makefile.am
diff --git a/lib/libzdb/Makefile.am b/lib/libzdb/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ec4fd92b984e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/libzdb/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+libzdb_la_CFLAGS = $(AM_CFLAGS) $(LIBRARY_CFLAGS)
+libzdb_la_CFLAGS += -fvisibility=hidden
+
+noinst_LTLIBRARIES += libzdb.la
+
+libzdb_la_SOURCES = \
+	%D%/libzdb.c
diff --git a/lib/libzdb/libzdb.c b/lib/libzdb/libzdb.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9989fa1eb80f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/libzdb/libzdb.c
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <getopt.h>
+#include <openssl/evp.h>
+#include <sys/zfs_context.h>
+#include <sys/spa.h>
+#include <sys/spa_impl.h>
+#include <sys/dmu.h>
+#include <sys/zap.h>
+#include <sys/fs/zfs.h>
+#include <sys/zfs_znode.h>
+#include <sys/zfs_sa.h>
+#include <sys/sa.h>
+#include <sys/sa_impl.h>
+#include <sys/vdev.h>
+#include <sys/vdev_impl.h>
+#include <sys/metaslab_impl.h>
+#include <sys/dmu_objset.h>
+#include <sys/dsl_dir.h>
+#include <sys/dsl_dataset.h>
+#include <sys/dsl_pool.h>
+#include <sys/dsl_bookmark.h>
+#include <sys/dbuf.h>
+#include <sys/zil.h>
+#include <sys/zil_impl.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <sys/resource.h>
+#include <sys/dmu_send.h>
+#include <sys/dmu_traverse.h>
+#include <sys/zio_checksum.h>
+#include <sys/zio_compress.h>
+#include <sys/zfs_fuid.h>
+#include <sys/arc.h>
+#include <sys/arc_impl.h>
+#include <sys/ddt.h>
+#include <sys/zfeature.h>
+#include <sys/abd.h>
+#include <sys/blkptr.h>
+#include <sys/dsl_crypt.h>
+#include <sys/dsl_scan.h>
+#include <sys/btree.h>
+#include <sys/brt.h>
+#include <sys/brt_impl.h>
+#include <zfs_comutil.h>
+#include <sys/zstd/zstd.h>
+
+#include <libnvpair.h>
+#include <libzutil.h>
+
+#include <libzdb.h>
+
+const char *
+zdb_ot_name(dmu_object_type_t type)
+{
+	if (type < DMU_OT_NUMTYPES)
+		return (dmu_ot[type].ot_name);
+	else if ((type & DMU_OT_NEWTYPE) &&
+	    ((type & DMU_OT_BYTESWAP_MASK) < DMU_BSWAP_NUMFUNCS))
+		return (dmu_ot_byteswap[type & DMU_OT_BYTESWAP_MASK].ob_name);
+	else
+		return ("UNKNOWN");
+}
+
+int
+livelist_compare(const void *larg, const void *rarg)
+{
+	const blkptr_t *l = larg;
+	const blkptr_t *r = rarg;
+
+	/* Sort them according to dva[0] */
+	uint64_t l_dva0_vdev, r_dva0_vdev;
+	l_dva0_vdev = DVA_GET_VDEV(&l->blk_dva[0]);
+	r_dva0_vdev = DVA_GET_VDEV(&r->blk_dva[0]);
+	if (l_dva0_vdev < r_dva0_vdev)
+		return (-1);
+	else if (l_dva0_vdev > r_dva0_vdev)
+		return (+1);
+
+	/* if vdevs are equal, sort by offsets. */
+	uint64_t l_dva0_offset;
+	uint64_t r_dva0_offset;
+	l_dva0_offset = DVA_GET_OFFSET(&l->blk_dva[0]);
+	r_dva0_offset = DVA_GET_OFFSET(&r->blk_dva[0]);
+	if (l_dva0_offset < r_dva0_offset) {
+		return (-1);
+	} else if (l_dva0_offset > r_dva0_offset) {
+		return (+1);
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Since we're storing blkptrs without cancelling FREE/ALLOC pairs,
+	 * it's possible the offsets are equal. In that case, sort by txg
+	 */
+	if (l->blk_birth < r->blk_birth) {
+		return (-1);
+	} else if (l->blk_birth > r->blk_birth) {
+		return (+1);
+	}
+	return (0);
+}