diff --git a/libelf/elf_kind.c b/libelf/elf_kind.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0fb3f0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libelf/elf_kind.c
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/* Return the kind of file associated with the descriptor.
+   Copyright (C) 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2015 Red Hat, Inc.
+   This file is part of elfutils.
+   Contributed by Ulrich Drepper <drepper@redhat.com>, 1998.
+
+   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 <libelf.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+
+#include "libelfP.h"
+
+
+Elf_Kind
+elf_kind (Elf *elf)
+{
+  return elf == NULL ? ELF_K_NONE : elf->kind;
+}