diff --git a/src/utils/strings.c b/src/utils/strings.c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/strings.c
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+/*
+ * SysDB - src/utils/strings.c
+ * Copyright (C) 2016 Sebastian 'tokkee' Harl <sh@tokkee.org>
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
+ * TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ * PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS OR
+ * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+ * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+ * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS;
+ * OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
+ * WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR
+ * OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF
+ * ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#if HAVE_CONFIG_H
+# include "config.h"
+#endif
+
+#include "utils/strings.h"
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+/*
+ * public API
+ */
+
+int
+stringv_copy(char ***dst, size_t *dst_len,
+ const char * const *src, size_t src_len)
+{
+ char **tmp;
+ size_t i;
+
+ if (*dst) {
+ tmp = realloc(*dst, src_len * sizeof(*tmp));
+ if (tmp)
+ memset(tmp, 0, src_len * sizeof(*tmp));
+ }
+ else
+ tmp = calloc(src_len, sizeof(*tmp));
+
+ if (! tmp)
+ return -1;
+
+ *dst = tmp;
+ *dst_len = src_len;
+ for (i = 0; i < src_len; ++i) {
+ (*dst)[i] = strdup(src[i]);
+ if (! (*dst)[i])
+ return -1;
+ }
+ return 0;
+} /* stringv_copy */
+
+void
+stringv_free(char ***s, size_t *s_len)
+{
+ size_t i;
+
+ if (*s) {
+ for (i = 0; i < *s_len; ++i) {
+ if ((*s)[i])
+ free((*s)[i]);
+ (*s)[i] = NULL;
+ }
+ free(*s);
+ }
+
+ *s = NULL;
+ *s_len = 0;
+} /* stringv_free */
+
+/* vim: set tw=78 sw=4 ts=4 noexpandtab : */
+