diff --git a/m4/error.m4 b/m4/error.m4
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3d9b2b7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/m4/error.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#serial 3
+
+dnl FIXME: put these prerequisite-only *.m4 files in a separate
+dnl directory -- otherwise, they'll conflict with existing files.
+
+dnl These are the prerequisite macros for GNU's error.c file.
+AC_DEFUN([jm_PREREQ_ERROR],
+[
+  AC_CHECK_FUNCS(strerror strerror_r vprintf doprnt)
+  AC_FUNC_STRERROR_R
+  AC_HEADER_STDC
+])