diff --git a/include/libbb.h b/include/libbb.h
index 5d72481..1330307 100644
--- a/include/libbb.h
+++ b/include/libbb.h
@@ -191,6 +191,18 @@
 extern int sysinfo(struct sysinfo* info);
 
 
+/* Size-saving "small" ints (arch-dependent) */
+#if defined(i386) || defined (__mips__)
+/* add other arches which benefit from this... */
+typedef signed char smallint;
+typedef unsigned char smalluint;
+#else
+/* for arches where byte accesses generate larger code: */
+typedef int smallint;
+typedef unsigned smalluint;
+#endif
+
+
 extern void chomp(char *s);
 extern void trim(char *s);
 extern char *skip_whitespace(const char *);