diff --git a/peakval_sse2.c b/peakval_sse2.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79d9059
--- /dev/null
+++ b/peakval_sse2.c
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/* Portable C version of peakval
+ * Copyright 2004 Phil Karn, KA9Q
+ */
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include "fec.h"
+
+int peakval_sse2_assist(signed short *,int);
+
+int peakval_sse2(signed short *b,int cnt){
+  int peak = 0;
+  int a;
+
+  while(((int)b & 15) != 0 && cnt != 0){
+    a = abs(*b);
+    if(a > peak)
+      peak = a;
+    b++;
+    cnt--;
+  }
+  a = peakval_sse2_assist(b,cnt);
+  if(a > peak)
+    peak = a;
+  b += cnt & ~7;
+  cnt &= 7;
+
+  while(cnt != 0){
+    a = abs(*b);
+    if(a > peak)
+      peak = a;
+    b++;
+    cnt--;
+  }
+  return peak;
+}