new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/malloc.c
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/* Work around bug on some systems where malloc (0) fails.
+   Copyright (C) 1997 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option)
+   any later version.
+
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
+   Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.  */
+
+/* written by Jim Meyering */
+
+#if HAVE_CONFIG_H
+# include <config.h>
+#endif
+#undef malloc
+
+#include <sys/types.h>
+
+char *malloc ();
+
+/* Allocate an N-byte block of memory from the heap.
+   If N is zero, allocate a 1-byte block.  */
+
+char *
+rpl_malloc (n)
+     size_t n;
+{
+  if (n == 0)
+    n = 1;
+  return malloc (n);
+}