diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 00b3b41..ab82270 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ IF(APPLE)
   LINK_DIRECTORIES(/opt/local/lib)
 ENDIF()
 
-SET(SOURCES avl.c avl-cmp.c blob.c blobmsg.c uloop.c usock.c ustream.c ustream-fd.c vlist.c)
+SET(SOURCES avl.c avl-cmp.c blob.c blobmsg.c uloop.c usock.c ustream.c ustream-fd.c vlist.c utils.c)
 
 ADD_LIBRARY(ubox SHARED ${SOURCES})
 
diff --git a/utils.c b/utils.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4589da8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils.c
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/*
+ * utils - misc libubox utility functions
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2012 Felix Fietkau <nbd@openwrt.org>
+ *
+ * Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
+ * purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
+ * copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
+ * WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+ * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
+ * ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+ * WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+ * ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
+ * OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#include "utils.h"
+#include <stdarg.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+#define foreach_arg(_arg, _addr, _len, _first_addr, _first_len) \
+	for (_addr = (_first_addr), _len = (_first_len); \
+		_addr; \
+		_addr = va_arg(_arg, void **), _len = _addr ? va_arg(_arg, size_t) : 0)
+
+void *__calloc_a(size_t len, ...)
+{
+	va_list ap, ap1;
+	void *ret;
+	void **cur_addr;
+	size_t cur_len;
+	int alloc_len = 0;
+	char *ptr;
+
+	va_start(ap, len);
+
+	va_copy(ap1, ap);
+	foreach_arg(ap1, cur_addr, cur_len, &ret, len)
+		alloc_len += cur_len;
+	va_end(ap1);
+
+	ptr = calloc(1, alloc_len);
+	alloc_len = 0;
+	foreach_arg(ap, cur_addr, cur_len, &ret, len) {
+		*cur_addr = &ptr[alloc_len];
+		alloc_len += cur_len;
+	}
+	va_end(ap);
+
+	return ret;
+}
diff --git a/utils.h b/utils.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e56998d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils.h
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/*
+ * utils - misc libubox utility functions
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2012 Felix Fietkau <nbd@openwrt.org>
+ *
+ * Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
+ * purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
+ * copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
+ * WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+ * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
+ * ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+ * WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+ * ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
+ * OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#ifndef __LIBUBOX_UTILS_H
+#define __LIBUBOX_UTILS_H
+
+#include <sys/types.h>
+
+/*
+ * calloc_a(size_t len, [void **addr, size_t len,...], NULL)
+ *
+ * allocate a block of memory big enough to hold multiple aligned objects.
+ * the pointer to the full object (starting with the first chunk) is returned,
+ * all other pointers are stored in the locations behind extra addr arguments.
+ * the last argument needs to be a NULL pointer
+ */
+
+#define calloc_a(len, ...) __calloc_a(len, ##__VA_ARGS__)
+
+void *__calloc_a(size_t len, ...);
+
+#endif