diff --git a/libelf/elf_newdata.c b/libelf/elf_newdata.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f6609a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libelf/elf_newdata.c
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+/* Create new, empty section data.
+   Copyright (C) 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 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 <stddef.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+#include "libelfP.h"
+
+
+Elf_Data *
+elf_newdata (Elf_Scn *scn)
+{
+  Elf_Data_List *result = NULL;
+
+  if (scn == NULL)
+    return NULL;
+
+  if (unlikely (scn->index == 0))
+    {
+      /* It is not allowed to add something to the 0th section.  */
+      __libelf_seterrno (ELF_E_NOT_NUL_SECTION);
+      return NULL;
+    }
+
+  if (scn->elf->class == ELFCLASS32
+      || (offsetof (struct Elf, state.elf32.ehdr)
+	  == offsetof (struct Elf, state.elf64.ehdr))
+      ? scn->elf->state.elf32.ehdr == NULL
+      : scn->elf->state.elf64.ehdr == NULL)
+    {
+      __libelf_seterrno (ELF_E_WRONG_ORDER_EHDR);
+      return NULL;
+    }
+
+  rwlock_wrlock (scn->elf->lock);
+
+  /* data_read is set when data has been read from the ELF image or
+     when a new section has been created by elf_newscn.  If data has
+     been read from the ELF image, then rawdata_base will point to raw
+     data.  If data_read has been set by elf_newscn, then rawdata_base
+     will be NULL.  data_list_rear will be set by elf_getdata if the
+     data has been converted, or by this function, elf_newdata, when
+     new data has been added.
+
+     Currently elf_getdata and elf_update rely on the fact that when
+     data_list_read is not NULL all they have to do is walk the data
+     list. They will ignore any (unread) raw data in that case.
+
+     So we need to make sure the data list is setup if there is
+     already data available.  */
+  if (scn->data_read
+      && scn->rawdata_base != NULL
+      && scn->data_list_rear == NULL)
+    __libelf_set_data_list_rdlock (scn, 1);
+
+  if (scn->data_read && scn->data_list_rear == NULL)
+    {
+      /* This means the section was created by the user and this is the
+	 first data.  */
+      result = &scn->data_list;
+      result->flags = ELF_F_DIRTY;
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      /* It would be more efficient to create new data without
+	 reading/converting the data from the file.  But then we
+	 have to remember this.  Currently elf_getdata and
+	 elf_update rely on the fact that they don't have to
+	 load/convert any data if data_list_rear is set.  */
+      if (scn->data_read == 0)
+	{
+	  if (__libelf_set_rawdata_wrlock (scn) != 0)
+	    /* Something went wrong.  The error value is already set.  */
+	    goto out;
+	  __libelf_set_data_list_rdlock (scn, 1);
+	}
+
+      /* Create a new, empty data descriptor.  */
+      result = (Elf_Data_List *) calloc (1, sizeof (Elf_Data_List));
+      if (result == NULL)
+	{
+	  __libelf_seterrno (ELF_E_NOMEM);
+	  goto out;
+	}
+
+      result->flags = ELF_F_DIRTY | ELF_F_MALLOCED;
+    }
+
+  /* Set the predefined values.  */
+  result->data.d.d_version = __libelf_version;
+
+  result->data.s = scn;
+
+  /* Add to the end of the list.  */
+  if (scn->data_list_rear != NULL)
+    scn->data_list_rear->next = result;
+
+  scn->data_list_rear = result;
+
+ out:
+  rwlock_unlock (scn->elf->lock);
+
+  /* Please note that the following is thread safe and is also defined
+     for RESULT == NULL since it still return NULL.  */
+  return &result->data.d;
+}