diff --git a/Lib/distutils/text_file.py b/Lib/distutils/text_file.py
index 9fff941..9e1a73b 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/text_file.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/text_file.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 __revision__ = "$Id$"
 
 from types import *
-import os, string, re
+import sys, os, string, re
 
 
 class TextFile:
@@ -67,6 +67,15 @@
         self.current_line = None
 
 
+    def warn (self, msg):
+        sys.stderr.write (self.filename + ", ")
+        if type (self.current_line) is ListType:
+            sys.stderr.write ("lines %d-%d: " % tuple (self.current_line))
+        else:
+            sys.stderr.write ("line %d: " % self.current_line)
+        sys.stderr.write (msg + "\n")
+
+
     def readline (self):
 
         buildup_line = ''