diff --git a/lib/des/des.h b/lib/des/des.h
index f9b782dae..1f1918bea 100644
--- a/lib/des/des.h
+++ b/lib/des/des.h
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ int des_string_to_key __P((char *str,des_cblock *key));
 int des_string_to_2keys __P((char *str,des_cblock *key1,des_cblock *key2));
 
 void des_rand_data __P((unsigned char *data, int size));
+void des_generate_random_block __P((des_cblock *block));
 void des_set_random_generator_seed __P((des_cblock *seed));
 int des_new_random_key __P((des_cblock *key));
 void des_init_random_number_generator __P((des_cblock *seed));
diff --git a/lib/des/rnd_keys.c b/lib/des/rnd_keys.c
index 84e92d363..ff326f34d 100644
--- a/lib/des/rnd_keys.c
+++ b/lib/des/rnd_keys.c
@@ -87,6 +87,12 @@ des_rand_data(unsigned char *data, int size)
     sigaction(SIGALRM, &osa, 0);
 }
 
+void
+des_generate_random_block(des_cblock *block)
+{
+  des_rand_data((unsigned char *)block, sizeof(*block));
+}
+
 #if 0
 /*
  * Generate a "random" DES key.