diff --git a/gpgme/ath-compat.c b/gpgme/ath-compat.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c25c209
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gpgme/ath-compat.c
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+/* ath.c - self-adapting thread-safeness library
+ *      Copyright (C) 2002 g10 Code GmbH
+ *
+ * This file is part of GPGME.
+ *
+ * GPGME 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.
+ *
+ * GPGME 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 program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA
+ */
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include <config.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <unistd.h>
+#ifdef HAVE_SYS_SELECT_H
+# include <sys/select.h>
+#else
+# include <sys/time.h>
+#endif
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <sys/wait.h>
+
+#include "ath.h"
+
+static struct ath_ops *ath_ops;
+
+void
+ath_init (void)
+{
+  if (0)
+    ;
+#ifdef HAVE_PTHREAD
+  else if (!ath_ops)
+    ath_ops = ath_pthread_available ();
+#endif
+#ifdef HAVE_PTH
+  else if (!ath_ops)
+    ath_ops = ath_pth_available ();
+#endif
+}
+
+
+int
+ath_mutex_init (ath_mutex_t *lock)
+{
+  if (!ath_ops)
+    return 0;
+
+  return ath_ops->mutex_init (lock, 0);
+}
+
+
+int
+ath_mutex_destroy (ath_mutex_t *lock)
+{
+  int err;
+  if (!ath_ops)
+    return 0;
+  err = ath_ops->mutex_init (lock, 1);
+  if (!err)
+    err = ath_ops->mutex_destroy (*lock);
+  return err;
+}
+
+
+int
+ath_mutex_lock (ath_mutex_t *lock)
+{
+  int err;
+
+  if (!ath_ops)
+    return 0;
+  err = ath_ops->mutex_init (lock, 1);
+  if (!err)
+    err = ath_ops->mutex_lock (*lock);
+  return err;
+}
+
+
+int
+ath_mutex_unlock (ath_mutex_t *lock)
+{
+  int err;
+
+  if (!ath_ops)
+    return 0;
+  err = ath_ops->mutex_init (lock, 1);
+  if (!err)
+    err = ath_ops->mutex_unlock (*lock);
+  return err;
+}
+
+
+ssize_t
+ath_read (int fd, void *buf, size_t nbytes)
+{
+  if (ath_ops && ath_ops->read)
+    return ath_ops->read (fd, buf, nbytes);
+  else
+    return read (fd, buf, nbytes);
+}
+
+
+ssize_t
+ath_write (int fd, const void *buf, size_t nbytes)
+{
+  if (ath_ops && ath_ops->write)
+    return ath_ops->write (fd, buf, nbytes);
+  else
+    return write (fd, buf, nbytes);
+}
+
+
+ssize_t
+ath_select (int nfd, fd_set *rset, fd_set *wset, fd_set *eset,
+	    struct timeval *timeout)
+{
+  if (ath_ops && ath_ops->select)
+    return ath_ops->select (nfd, rset, wset, eset, timeout);
+  else
+    return select (nfd, rset, wset, eset, timeout);
+}
+
+ 
+ssize_t
+ath_waitpid (pid_t pid, int *status, int options)
+{
+  if (ath_ops && ath_ops->waitpid)
+    return ath_ops->waitpid (pid, status, options);
+  else
+    return waitpid (pid, status, options);
+}
+
+
+int
+ath_accept (int s, struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t *length_ptr)
+{
+  if (ath_ops && ath_ops->accept)
+    return ath_ops->accept (s, addr, length_ptr);
+  else
+    return accept (s, addr, length_ptr);
+}
+
+
+int
+ath_connect (int s, struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t length)
+{
+  if (ath_ops && ath_ops->connect)
+    return ath_ops->connect (s, addr, length);
+  else
+    return connect (s, addr, length);
+}
+
+
+int
+ath_sendmsg (int s, const struct msghdr *msg, int flags)
+{
+  if (ath_ops && ath_ops->sendmsg)
+    return ath_ops->sendmsg (s, msg, flags);
+  else
+    return sendmsg (s, msg, flags);
+}
+
+
+int
+ath_recvmsg (int s, struct msghdr *msg, int flags)
+{
+  if (ath_ops && ath_ops->recvmsg)
+    return ath_ops->recvmsg (s, msg, flags);
+  else
+    return recvmsg (s, msg, flags);
+}