diff --git a/src/lib.zig b/src/lib.zig
index 5fb316836b7cc5dbb9f2f4c8dc7770b152890610..f3d2515d06bd573fd5f8fada3134111a9359719b 100644
--- a/src/lib.zig
+++ b/src/lib.zig
@@ -439,3 +439,12 @@ pub fn safeAdd(a: anytype, b: anytype) @TypeOf(a) {
     }
     return a - @intCast(@TypeOf(a), -b);
 }
+
+pub fn readBytesAlloc(reader: anytype, alloc: std.mem.Allocator, len: usize) ![]u8 {
+    var list = std.ArrayListUnmanaged(u8){};
+    try list.ensureTotalCapacityPrecise(alloc, len);
+    errdefer list.deinit(alloc);
+    list.appendNTimesAssumeCapacity(0, len);
+    try reader.readNoEof(list.items[0..len]);
+    return list.items;
+}