diff --git a/src/PYTHON/python_utils.h b/src/PYTHON/python_utils.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..82422916ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/PYTHON/python_utils.h
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/* -*- c++ -*- ----------------------------------------------------------
+   LAMMPS - Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator
+   http://lammps.sandia.gov, Sandia National Laboratories
+   Steve Plimpton, sjplimp@sandia.gov
+
+   Copyright (2003) Sandia Corporation.  Under the terms of Contract
+   DE-AC04-94AL85000 with Sandia Corporation, the U.S. Government retains
+   certain rights in this software.  This software is distributed under
+   the GNU General Public License.
+
+   See the README file in the top-level LAMMPS directory.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+#ifndef LMP_PYTHON_UTILS_H
+#define LMP_PYTHON_UTILS_H
+
+#include <Python.h>
+
+namespace LAMMPS_NS {
+
+namespace PyUtils {
+
+class GIL {
+  PyGILState_STATE gstate;
+public:
+  GIL() : gstate(PyGILState_Ensure()) {
+  }
+  ~GIL() {
+    PyGILState_Release(gstate);
+  }
+};
+
+static void Print_Errors() {
+  PyErr_Print();
+  PyErr_Clear();
+}
+
+}
+
+}
+
+#endif