--- a/src/cutils.c
+++ b/src/cutils.c
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@
 #include <sys/poll.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <string.h>
+
 static void
 do_octave_usleep (unsigned int useconds)
 {
@@ -78,6 +80,18 @@
   do_octave_usleep (usec);
 }
 
+int
+octave_strcasecmp (const char *s1, const char *s2)
+{
+  return strcasecmp (s1, s2);
+}
+
+int
+octave_strncasecmp (const char *s1, const char *s2, size_t n)
+{
+  return strncasecmp (s1, s2, n);
+}
+
 /*
 ;;; Local Variables: ***
 ;;; mode: C++ ***