diff --git a/libelf/elf_clone.c b/libelf/elf_clone.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6fe472
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libelf/elf_clone.c
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/* Create clone of a given descriptor.
+   Copyright (C) 2003, 2004 Red Hat, Inc.
+   This file is part of elfutils.
+   Written by Ulrich Drepper <drepper@redhat.com>, 2003.
+
+   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 <assert.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include "libelfP.h"
+#include "common.h"
+
+
+Elf *
+elf_clone (Elf *elf, Elf_Cmd cmd)
+{
+  Elf *retval = NULL;
+
+  if (elf == NULL)
+    /* Some earlier mistake.  */
+    return NULL;
+
+  /* Make sure the descriptor is not suddenly going away.  */
+  rwlock_rdlock (elf->lock);
+
+  if (cmd != ELF_C_EMPTY)
+    // XXX TODO handle ELF_C_READ/WRITE etc
+    goto out;
+
+  retval = allocate_elf (elf->fildes, elf->map_address, elf->start_offset,
+			 elf->maximum_size, elf->cmd, elf->parent, elf->kind,
+			 elf->state.elf32.scns.max * sizeof (Elf_Scn));
+  if (retval != NULL)
+    {
+      /* We have to write to the file in any case.  */
+      retval->flags = ELF_F_DIRTY;
+
+      /* Some more or less arbitrary value.  */
+      retval->state.elf.scnincr = 10;
+
+      /* We have allocated room for some sections.  */
+      assert (offsetof (struct Elf, state.elf32.scns)
+	      == offsetof (struct Elf, state.elf64.scns));
+      retval->state.elf.scns_last = &retval->state.elf32.scns;
+      retval->state.elf32.scns.max = elf->state.elf32.scns.max;
+
+      retval->class = elf->class;
+    }
+
+  /* Release the lock.  */
+ out:
+  rwlock_unlock (elf->lock);
+
+  return retval;
+}