diff --git a/libebl/eblclosebackend.c b/libebl/eblclosebackend.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..67fbdfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libebl/eblclosebackend.c
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/* Free ELF backend handle.
+   Copyright (C) 2000, 2001, 2002 Red Hat, Inc.
+   This file is part of elfutils.
+
+   This file is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of either
+
+     * the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free
+       Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at
+       your option) any later version
+
+   or
+
+     * 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
+
+   or both in parallel, as here.
+
+   elfutils 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 copies of the GNU General Public License and
+   the GNU Lesser General Public License along with this program.  If
+   not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+# include <config.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <dlfcn.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+#include <libeblP.h>
+
+
+void
+ebl_closebackend (Ebl *ebl)
+{
+  if (ebl != NULL)
+    {
+      /* Run the destructor.  */
+      ebl->destr (ebl);
+
+      /* Close the dynamically loaded object.  */
+      if (ebl->dlhandle != NULL)
+	(void) dlclose (ebl->dlhandle);
+
+      /* Free the resources.  */
+      free (ebl);
+    }
+}