diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index a0f46113..a34b2420 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -419,3 +419,16 @@ tvh_str_set(char **strp, const char *src)
   *strp = src ? strdup(src) : NULL;
 }
 
+
+/**
+ *
+ */
+void
+tvh_str_update(char **strp, const char *src)
+{
+  if(src == NULL)
+    return;
+  free(*strp);
+  *strp = strdup(src);
+}
+
diff --git a/tvhead.h b/tvhead.h
index d4b6b585..aee0e467 100644
--- a/tvhead.h
+++ b/tvhead.h
@@ -906,6 +906,7 @@ static inline unsigned int tvh_strhash(const char *s, unsigned int mod)
 #define MAX(a,b) ((a) > (b) ? (a) : (b))
 
 void tvh_str_set(char **strp, const char *src);
+void tvh_str_update(char **strp, const char *src);
 
 void tvhlog(int severity, const char *subsys, const char *fmt, ...);