diff --git a/src/lib/io/Makefile b/src/lib/io/Makefile
index d9f8f30a26..2e82070143 100644
--- a/src/lib/io/Makefile
+++ b/src/lib/io/Makefile
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ O1=\
 
 O2=\
 	pipe.$O\
+	utils.$O\
 
 
 phases: a1 a2
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ a1: $(O1)
 	rm -f $(O1)
 
 a2: $(O2)
-	$(AR) grc _obj$D/io.a pipe.$O
+	$(AR) grc _obj$D/io.a pipe.$O utils.$O
 	rm -f $(O2)
 
 
diff --git a/src/lib/io/utils.go b/src/lib/io/utils.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..736097946e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/io/utils.go
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// Copyright 2009 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+// Utility functions.
+
+package io
+
+import (
+	"io";
+	"os";
+)
+
+
+// ReadFile reads the file named by filename and returns
+// its contents if successful.
+//
+func ReadFile(filename string) ([]byte, os.Error) {
+	f, err := os.Open(filename, os.O_RDONLY, 0);
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err;
+	}
+	var b io.ByteBuffer;
+	_, err := io.Copy(f, &b);
+	f.Close();
+	return b.Data(), err;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/io/utils_test.go b/src/lib/io/utils_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f35dad60c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/io/utils_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+// Copyright 2009 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package io
+
+import (
+	"io";
+	"os";
+	"testing";
+)
+
+func checkSize(t *testing.T, path string, size uint64) {
+	dir, err := os.Stat(path);
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Stat %q (looking for size %d): %s", path, size, err);
+	}
+	if dir.Size != size {
+		t.Errorf("Stat %q: size %d want %d", path, dir.Size, size);
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReadFile(t *testing.T) {
+	filename := "rumpelstilzchen";
+	contents, err := ReadFile(filename);
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReadFile %s: error expected, none found", filename);
+	}
+
+	filename = "utils_test.go";
+	contents, err = ReadFile(filename);
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReadFile %s: %v", filename, err);
+	}
+
+	checkSize(t, filename, uint64(len(contents)));
+}