diff --git a/lib/utils/__init__.py b/lib/utils/__init__.py
index e69de29b..c50c88ce 100644
--- a/lib/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/utils/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import re
+
+def __init__():
+    pass
+
+def QuoteForPOSIX(string):
+    '''quote a string so it can be used as an argument in a  posix shell
+    
+    According to: http://www.unix.org/single_unix_specification/
+    2.2.1 Escape Character (Backslash)
+    
+    A backslash that is not quoted shall preserve the literal value
+    of the following character, with the exception of a <newline>.
+    
+    2.2.2 Single-Quotes
+    
+    Enclosing characters in single-quotes ( '' ) shall preserve
+    the literal value of each character within the single-quotes.
+    A single-quote cannot occur within single-quotes.
+    
+    source : http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python/Recipe/498202
+    '''
+    
+    return "\\'".join(["'" + p + "'" for p in string.split("'")])