diff --git a/common/list.c b/common/list.c
index 96b96eb7..9b338eca 100644
--- a/common/list.c
+++ b/common/list.c
@@ -179,3 +179,21 @@ list_insert_item(struct list* self, int index, long item)
     self->items[index] = item;
   }
 }
+
+/*****************************************************************************/
+/* append one list to another using strdup for each item in the list */
+/* begins copy at start_index, a zero based index on the soure list */
+void APP_CC
+list_append_list_strdup(struct list* self, struct list* dest, int start_index)
+{
+  int index;
+  long item;
+  char* dup;
+
+  for (index = start_index; index < self->count; index++)
+  {
+    item = list_get_item(self, index);
+    dup = g_strdup((char*)item);
+    list_add_item(dest, (long)dup);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/common/list.h b/common/list.h
index a1163515..fa66f643 100644
--- a/common/list.h
+++ b/common/list.h
@@ -47,5 +47,7 @@ void APP_CC
 list_remove_item(struct list* self, int index);
 void APP_CC
 list_insert_item(struct list* self, int index, long item);
+void APP_CC
+list_append_list_strdup(struct list* self, struct list* dest, int start_index);
 
 #endif