diff --git a/lib/safe-read.h b/lib/safe-read.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8e4b165c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/safe-read.h
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#ifndef PARAMS
+# if defined PROTOTYPES || (defined __STDC__ && __STDC__)
+#  define PARAMS(Args) Args
+# else
+#  define PARAMS(Args) ()
+# endif
+#endif
+
+ssize_t
+safe_read PARAMS ((int desc, void *ptr, size_t len));