diff --git a/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceControllerFactory.mm b/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceControllerFactory.mm
index 72cf8737f8aa7c..d7fb8e7b119cf0 100644
--- a/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceControllerFactory.mm
+++ b/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceControllerFactory.mm
@@ -641,9 +641,7 @@ - (MTRDeviceController * _Nullable)createControllerOnExistingFabric:(MTRDeviceCo
                          return nil;
                      }
 
-                     os_unfair_lock_lock(&self->_controllersLock);
-                     NSArray<MTRDeviceController *> * controllersCopy = [self->_controllers copy];
-                     os_unfair_lock_unlock(&self->_controllersLock);
+                     auto * controllersCopy = [self getRunningControllers];
 
                      for (MTRDeviceController * existing in controllersCopy) {
                          BOOL isRunning = YES; // assume the worst
@@ -880,13 +878,19 @@ - (void)controllerShuttingDown:(MTRDeviceController *)controller
     [controller deinitFromFactory];
 }
 
-- (nullable MTRDeviceController *)runningControllerForFabricIndex:(chip::FabricIndex)fabricIndex
+- (NSArray<MTRDeviceController *> *)getRunningControllers
 {
-    assertChipStackLockedByCurrentThread();
-
     os_unfair_lock_lock(&_controllersLock);
     NSArray<MTRDeviceController *> * controllersCopy = [_controllers copy];
     os_unfair_lock_unlock(&_controllersLock);
+    return controllersCopy;
+}
+
+- (nullable MTRDeviceController *)runningControllerForFabricIndex:(chip::FabricIndex)fabricIndex
+{
+    assertChipStackLockedByCurrentThread();
+
+    auto * controllersCopy = [self getRunningControllers];
 
     for (MTRDeviceController * existing in controllersCopy) {
         if ([existing fabricIndex] == fabricIndex) {
@@ -901,9 +905,7 @@ - (void)operationalInstanceAdded:(chip::PeerId &)operationalID
 {
     assertChipStackLockedByCurrentThread();
 
-    os_unfair_lock_lock(&_controllersLock);
-    NSArray<MTRDeviceController *> * controllersCopy = [_controllers copy];
-    os_unfair_lock_unlock(&_controllersLock);
+    auto * controllersCopy = [self getRunningControllers];
 
     for (MTRDeviceController * controller in controllersCopy) {
         auto * compressedFabricId = controller.compressedFabricID;
diff --git a/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceControllerFactory_Internal.h b/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceControllerFactory_Internal.h
index 9903eaa77e2cd2..dc0b968b427782 100644
--- a/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceControllerFactory_Internal.h
+++ b/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceControllerFactory_Internal.h
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
 
 - (void)controllerShuttingDown:(MTRDeviceController *)controller;
 
+/**
+ * Get the list of running controllers.  This will include controllers that are
+ * in the middle of starting up or shutting down.
+ */
+- (NSArray<MTRDeviceController *> *)getRunningControllers;
+
 /**
  * Find a running controller, if any, for the given fabric index.
  */