diff --git a/util.c b/util.c
index 9df6af953f0..7306ddde34c 100644
--- a/util.c
+++ b/util.c
@@ -701,6 +701,18 @@ int unoctchar(char c) {
         return -1;
 }
 
+char decchar(int x) {
+        return '0' + (x % 10);
+}
+
+int undecchar(char c) {
+
+        if (c >= '0' && c <= '9')
+                return c - '0';
+
+        return -1;
+}
+
 char *cescape(const char *s) {
         char *r, *t;
         const char *f;
diff --git a/util.h b/util.h
index 49abce1dbbb..9f9bca86f2c 100644
--- a/util.h
+++ b/util.h
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ char hexchar(int x);
 int unhexchar(char c);
 char octchar(int x);
 int unoctchar(char c);
+char decchar(int x);
+int undecchar(char c);
 
 char *cescape(const char *s);
 char *cunescape(const char *s);