diff --git a/packetformats.c b/packetformats.c
index ea1bd24d..63b19e5b 100644
--- a/packetformats.c
+++ b/packetformats.c
@@ -61,3 +61,26 @@ void write_uint16(unsigned char *o,uint16_t v)
     { *(o++)=v&0xff; v=v>>8; }
 }
 
+uint64_t read_uint64(unsigned char *o)
+{
+  int i;
+  uint64_t v=0;
+  for(i=0;i<8;i++) v=(v<<8)|*(o++);
+  return v;
+}
+
+uint32_t read_uint32(unsigned char *o)
+{
+  int i;
+  uint32_t v=0;
+  for(i=0;i<4;i++) v=(v<<8)|*(o++);
+  return v;
+}
+
+uint16_t read_uint16(unsigned char *o)
+{
+  int i;
+  uint16_t v=0;
+  for(i=0;i<2;i++) v=(v<<8)|*(o++);
+  return v;
+}
diff --git a/serval.h b/serval.h
index 5be1ce15..4ed6d496 100644
--- a/serval.h
+++ b/serval.h
@@ -768,5 +768,8 @@ int olsr_send(struct overlay_frame *frame);
 void write_uint64(unsigned char *o,uint64_t v);
 void write_uint16(unsigned char *o,uint16_t v);
 void write_uint32(unsigned char *o,uint32_t v);
+uint64_t read_uint64(unsigned char *o);
+uint32_t read_uint32(unsigned char *o);
+uint16_t read_uint16(unsigned char *o);
 
 #endif // __SERVALD_SERVALD_H