--- a/liboctave/oct-time.cc
+++ b/liboctave/oct-time.cc
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 
 #include "lo-error.h"
 #include "lo-utils.h"
+#define __USE_XOPEN
 #include "oct-time.h"
 
 octave_time::octave_time (const octave_base_tm& tm)
@@ -218,6 +219,41 @@
   octave_base_tm::init (gmtime (&t));
 }
 
+void
+octave_strptime::init (const string& str, const string& fmt)
+{
+  struct tm t;
+
+  t.tm_sec = 0;
+  t.tm_min = 0;
+  t.tm_hour = 0;
+  t.tm_mday = 0;
+  t.tm_mon = 0;
+  t.tm_year = 0;
+  t.tm_wday = 0;
+  t.tm_yday = 0;
+  t.tm_isdst = 0;
+
+#if defined (HAVE_TM_ZONE)
+  char *ps = strsave ("");
+  t.tm_zone = ps;
+#endif
+
+  char *p = strsave (str.c_str ());
+
+  char *q = strptime (p, fmt.c_str (), &t);
+
+  nchars = p - q;
+
+  delete [] p;
+
+  octave_base_tm::init (&t);
+
+#if defined (HAVE_TM_ZONE)
+  delete ps;
+#endif
+}
+
 /*
 ;;; Local Variables: ***
 ;;; mode: C++ ***