diff --git a/nest/password.c b/nest/password.c
index ce7941ea..f0f433ab 100644
--- a/nest/password.c
+++ b/nest/password.c
@@ -38,3 +38,15 @@ get_best_password(struct password_item *head, int flags)
   }
   return best;
 }
+
+void
+password_strncpy(char *to, char *from, int len)
+{
+  int i;
+  for (i=0; i<len; i++) {
+    *to++ = *from;
+    if (*from)
+      from++;
+  }
+}
+
diff --git a/nest/password.h b/nest/password.h
index 16f4385a..119aa707 100644
--- a/nest/password.h
+++ b/nest/password.h
@@ -20,5 +20,7 @@ struct password_item {
 extern struct password_item *last_password_item;
 
 struct password_item *get_best_password(struct password_item *head, int flags);
+extern void password_strncpy(char *to, char *from, int len);
+
 
 #endif