diff --git a/utils/src/parse.h b/utils/src/parse.h
index 0a0d9ac4..b7ed51f4 100644
--- a/utils/src/parse.h
+++ b/utils/src/parse.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define _PARSE_H_
 
 #include <sys/time.h>
+#include <argp.h>
 
 int parse_human(char* str, u64 *val_ret);
 int parse_u64(char *str, u64 *val_ret);
@@ -9,4 +10,13 @@ int parse_s64(char *str, s64 *val_ret);
 int parse_u32(char *str, u32 *val_ret);
 int parse_timespec(char *str, struct timespec *ts);
 
+static inline char* strdup_or_error(const struct argp_state *state, char *str)
+{
+	char *new = strdup(str);
+	if (!new)
+		argp_error(state, "memory allocation failed");
+
+	return new;
+}
+
 #endif