diff --git a/common/os_calls.c b/common/os_calls.c
index cb79c7d3..dd73bf45 100644
--- a/common/os_calls.c
+++ b/common/os_calls.c
@@ -937,6 +937,27 @@ g_file_delete(const char* filename)
 #endif
 }
 
+/*****************************************************************************/
+/* returns file size, -1 on error */
+int APP_CC
+g_file_get_size(const char* filename)
+{
+#if defined(_WIN32)
+  return -1;
+#else
+  struct stat st;
+
+  if (stat(filename, &st) == 0)
+  {
+    return (int)(st.st_size);
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    return -1;
+  }
+#endif
+}
+
 /*****************************************************************************/
 /* returns length of text */
 int APP_CC
diff --git a/common/os_calls.h b/common/os_calls.h
index 4146c539..f2856288 100644
--- a/common/os_calls.h
+++ b/common/os_calls.h
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ g_remove_dir(const char* dirname);
 int APP_CC
 g_file_delete(const char* filename);
 int APP_CC
+g_file_get_size(const char* filename);
+int APP_CC
 g_strlen(const char* text);
 char* APP_CC
 g_strcpy(char* dest, const char* src);