diff --git a/basis/alien/data/data.factor b/basis/alien/data/data.factor
index f52b1a7f25..f8bd14456b 100644
--- a/basis/alien/data/data.factor
+++ b/basis/alien/data/data.factor
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ M: bad-byte-array-length summary
 : malloc-array ( n c-type -- array )
     [ heap-size calloc ] [ <c-direct-array> ] 2bi ; inline
 
+: malloc-like ( seq c-type -- malloc )
+    [ dup length ] dip malloc-array [ 0 swap copy ] keep ;
+
 : malloc-byte-array ( byte-array -- alien )
     binary-object [ nip malloc dup ] 2keep memcpy ;