diff --git a/libbb/read_text_file_to_buffer.c b/libbb/read_text_file_to_buffer.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ef64ad712
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libbb/read_text_file_to_buffer.c
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include "libbb.h"
+
+/*
+ * Reads consecutive lines from file line that start with end_string
+ * read finishes at an empty line or eof
+ */
+extern char *read_text_file_to_buffer(FILE *src_file)
+{
+	char *line = NULL;
+	char *buffer = NULL;
+	int buffer_length = 0;
+	int line_length = 0;
+
+	buffer = xmalloc(1);
+	strcpy(buffer, "");
+
+	/* Loop until line is empty, or just one char, which will be '\n' */
+	do {
+		line = get_line_from_file(src_file);
+		if (line == NULL) {
+			break;
+		}
+		line_length = strlen(line);
+		buffer_length += line_length + 1;
+		buffer = (char *) xrealloc(buffer, buffer_length + 1);
+		strcat(buffer, line);
+		free(line);
+	} while (line_length > 1);
+
+	if (strlen(buffer) == 0) {
+		return(NULL);
+	} else {
+		return(strdup(buffer));
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file