diff --git a/libbb/xgethostbyname.c b/libbb/xgethostbyname.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c722951
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libbb/xgethostbyname.c
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/* vi: set sw=4 ts=4: */
+/*
+ * Mini xgethostbyname implementation.
+ *
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2001 Matt Kraai <kraai@alumni.carnegiemellon.edu>.
+ *
+ * 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 of the License, 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
+ *
+ */
+
+#include <netdb.h>
+extern int h_errno;
+
+struct hostent *xgethostbyname(const char *name)
+{
+	struct hostent *retval;
+
+	if ((retval = gethostbyname(name)) == NULL)
+		herror_msg_and_die("%s", name);
+
+	return retval;
+}