diff --git a/agent/sexp-parse.h b/agent/sexp-parse.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6baca08cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/agent/sexp-parse.h
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+/* sexp-parse.h - S-Exp helper functions
+ *	Copyright (C) 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+ *
+ * This file is part of GnuPG.
+ *
+ * GnuPG 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.
+ *
+ * GnuPG 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
+ */
+
+#ifndef SEXP_PARSE_H
+#define SEXP_PARSE_H
+
+#include "../common/util.h"
+
+/* Return the length of the next S-Exp part and update the pointer to
+   the first data byte.  0 is return on error */
+static inline size_t
+snext (unsigned char const **buf)
+{
+  const unsigned char *s;
+  int n;
+
+  s = *buf;
+  for (n=0; *s && *s != ':' && digitp (s); s++)
+    n = n*10 + atoi_1 (s);
+  if (!n || *s != ':')
+    return 0; /* we don't allow empty lengths */
+  *buf = s+1;
+  return n;
+}
+
+/* Skip over the S-Expression BUF points to and update BUF to point to
+   the chacter right behind.  DEPTH gives the initial number of open
+   lists and may be passed as a positive number to skip over the
+   remainder of an S-Expression if the current position is somewhere
+   in an S-Expression.  The function may return an error code if it
+   encounters an impossible conditions */
+static inline int
+sskip (unsigned char const **buf, int *depth)
+{
+  const unsigned char *s = *buf;
+  size_t n;
+  int d = *depth;
+  
+  while (d > 0)
+    {
+      if (*s == '(')
+        {
+          d++;
+          s++;
+        }
+      else if (*s == ')')
+        {
+          d--;
+          s++;
+        }
+      else
+        {
+          if (!d)
+            return GNUPG_Invalid_Sexp;
+          n = snext (&s);
+          if (!n)
+            return GNUPG_Invalid_Sexp; 
+          s += n;
+        }
+    }
+  *buf = s;
+  *depth = d;
+  return 0;
+}
+
+
+/* Check whether the the string at the address BUF points to matches
+   the token.  Return true on match and update BUF to point behind the
+   token. */
+static inline int
+smatch (unsigned char const **buf, size_t buflen, const char *token)
+{
+  size_t toklen = strlen (token);
+
+  if (buflen != toklen || memcmp (*buf, token, toklen))
+    return 0;
+  *buf += toklen;
+  return 1;
+}
+
+#endif /*SEXP_PARSE_H*/