diff --git a/src/cmd/vac/file.c b/src/cmd/vac/file.c
index e5629aed..c79b0108 100644
--- a/src/cmd/vac/file.c
+++ b/src/cmd/vac/file.c
@@ -992,6 +992,12 @@ vacfileisdir(VacFile *f)
 	return (f->dir.mode & ModeDir) != 0;
 }
 
+int
+vacfilegetmode(VacFile *f)
+{
+	return f->dir.mode;
+}
+
 int
 vacfileisroot(VacFile *f)
 {