diff --git a/himbaechel/uarch/gowin/gowin_utils.h b/himbaechel/uarch/gowin/gowin_utils.h
index f9276c10..71f60f8c 100644
--- a/himbaechel/uarch/gowin/gowin_utils.h
+++ b/himbaechel/uarch/gowin/gowin_utils.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #ifndef GOWIN_UTILS_H
 #define GOWIN_UTILS_H
 
+#include "design_utils.h"
 #include "idstringlist.h"
 #include "nextpnr_namespaces.h"
 #include "nextpnr_types.h"
@@ -37,6 +38,19 @@ struct GowinUtils
     BelId get_dcs_bel(IdString spine_name);
     BelId get_dhcen_bel(WireId hclkin_wire, IdString &side);
 
+    // ports
+    inline bool port_used(CellInfo *cell, IdString port_name)
+    {
+        if (!nextpnr_himbaechel::port_used(cell, port_name)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        NetInfo *ni = cell->ports.at(port_name).net;
+        if (ni->driver.cell == nullptr) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        return ni->users.entries() != 0;
+    }
+
     // BSRAM
     bool has_SP32(void);
     bool need_SP_fix(void);
diff --git a/himbaechel/uarch/gowin/pack.cc b/himbaechel/uarch/gowin/pack.cc
index 78389d7f..f774bbc3 100644
--- a/himbaechel/uarch/gowin/pack.cc
+++ b/himbaechel/uarch/gowin/pack.cc
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ struct GowinPacker
         }
 
         // if Q1 is connected then disconnect it too
-        if (port_used(&ci, tx_port)) {
+        if (gwu.port_used(&ci, tx_port)) {
             NPNR_ASSERT(out_iob == net_only_drives(ctx, ci.ports.at(tx_port).net, is_iob, id_OEN, true));
             nets_to_remove.push_back(ci.getPort(tx_port)->name);
             out_iob->disconnectPort(id_OEN);
@@ -3160,7 +3160,7 @@ struct GowinPacker
             // add invertor
             int lut_idx = 0;
             auto add_inv = [&](IdString port, PortType port_type) {
-                if (!port_used(&ci, port)) {
+                if (!gwu.port_used(&ci, port)) {
                     return;
                 }