diff --git a/include/libcamera/controls.h b/include/libcamera/controls.h
index aef17abe07..190a28970c 100644
--- a/include/libcamera/controls.h
+++ b/include/libcamera/controls.h
@@ -264,6 +264,19 @@ public:
 	void reserve(ControlType type, bool isArray = false,
 		     std::size_t numElements = 1);
 
+	void swap(ControlValue &other) noexcept
+	{
+		std::swap(type_, other.type_);
+		std::swap(isArray_, other.isArray_);
+		std::swap(numElements_, other.numElements_);
+		std::swap(storage_, other.storage_);
+	}
+
+	friend void swap(ControlValue &a, ControlValue &b) noexcept
+	{
+		a.swap(b);
+	}
+
 private:
 	ControlType type_;
 	bool isArray_;
diff --git a/src/libcamera/controls.cpp b/src/libcamera/controls.cpp
index 588b609373..242072778b 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/controls.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/controls.cpp
@@ -413,6 +413,21 @@ void ControlValue::reserve(ControlType type, bool isArray, std::size_t numElemen
 		storage_.external = new uint8_t[newSize];
 }
 
+/**
+ * \fn ControlValue::swap(ControlValue &other) noexcept
+ * \brief Swap two control values
+ *
+ * This function swaps the contained value of \a this with that of \a other.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * \fn ControlValue::swap(ControlValue &a, ControlValue &b) noexcept
+ * \brief Swap two control values
+ *
+ * This function swaps the contained value of \a a with that of \a b.
+ * \sa ControlValue::swap()
+ */
+
 /**
  * \class ControlId
  * \brief Control static metadata