diff --git a/libfdt/Makefile.libfdt b/libfdt/Makefile.libfdt
index d55a6f8..4366627 100644
--- a/libfdt/Makefile.libfdt
+++ b/libfdt/Makefile.libfdt
@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@
 LIBFDT_soname = libfdt.$(SHAREDLIB_EXT).1
 LIBFDT_INCLUDES = fdt.h libfdt.h
 LIBFDT_VERSION = version.lds
-LIBFDT_SRCS = fdt.c fdt_ro.c fdt_wip.c fdt_sw.c fdt_rw.c fdt_strerror.c
+LIBFDT_SRCS = fdt.c fdt_ro.c fdt_wip.c fdt_sw.c fdt_rw.c fdt_strerror.c fdt_empty_tree.c
 LIBFDT_OBJS = $(LIBFDT_SRCS:%.c=%.o)
diff --git a/libfdt/fdt_empty_tree.c b/libfdt/fdt_empty_tree.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f72d13b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libfdt/fdt_empty_tree.c
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+/*
+ * libfdt - Flat Device Tree manipulation
+ * Copyright (C) 2012 David Gibson, IBM Corporation.
+ *
+ * libfdt is dual licensed: you can use it either under the terms of
+ * the GPL, or the BSD license, at your option.
+ *
+ *  a) This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ *     modify it under the terms of 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.
+ *
+ *     This library 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 a copy of the GNU General Public
+ *     License along with this library; if not, write to the Free
+ *     Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston,
+ *     MA 02110-1301 USA
+ *
+ * Alternatively,
+ *
+ *  b) Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or
+ *     without modification, are permitted provided that the following
+ *     conditions are met:
+ *
+ *     1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above
+ *        copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
+ *        disclaimer.
+ *     2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ *        copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
+ *        disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials
+ *        provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ *     THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND
+ *     CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
+ *     INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+ *     MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+ *     DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
+ *     CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ *     SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
+ *     NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+ *     LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+ *     HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+ *     CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR
+ *     OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE,
+ *     EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+#include "libfdt_env.h"
+
+#include <fdt.h>
+#include <libfdt.h>
+
+#include "libfdt_internal.h"
+
+int fdt_create_empty_tree(void *buf, int bufsize)
+{
+	int err;
+
+	err = fdt_create(buf, bufsize);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	err = fdt_finish_reservemap(buf);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	err = fdt_begin_node(buf, "");
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	err =  fdt_end_node(buf);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	err = fdt_finish(buf);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	return fdt_open_into(buf, buf, bufsize);
+}
+
diff --git a/libfdt/libfdt.h b/libfdt/libfdt.h
index 35d78b8..73f4975 100644
--- a/libfdt/libfdt.h
+++ b/libfdt/libfdt.h
@@ -1014,6 +1014,7 @@ int fdt_finish(void *fdt);
 /* Read-write functions                                               */
 /**********************************************************************/
 
+int fdt_create_empty_tree(void *buf, int bufsize);
 int fdt_open_into(const void *fdt, void *buf, int bufsize);
 int fdt_pack(void *fdt);
 
diff --git a/tests/rw_tree1.c b/tests/rw_tree1.c
index f4965ec..103a24d 100644
--- a/tests/rw_tree1.c
+++ b/tests/rw_tree1.c
@@ -57,17 +57,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	fdt = xmalloc(SPACE);
 
 	/* First create empty tree with SW */
-	CHECK(fdt_create(fdt, SPACE));
-
-	CHECK(fdt_finish_reservemap(fdt));
-	CHECK(fdt_begin_node(fdt, ""));
-	CHECK(fdt_end_node(fdt));
-	CHECK(fdt_finish(fdt));
-
-	verbose_printf("Built empty tree, totalsize = %d\n",
-		       fdt_totalsize(fdt));
-
-	CHECK(fdt_open_into(fdt, fdt, SPACE));
+	CHECK(fdt_create_empty_tree(fdt, SPACE));
 
 	CHECK(fdt_add_mem_rsv(fdt, TEST_ADDR_1, TEST_SIZE_1));
 	CHECK(fdt_add_mem_rsv(fdt, TEST_ADDR_2, TEST_SIZE_2));