diff --git a/include/pcp/mem.h b/include/pcp/mem.h
index fc840ec..ea049b2 100644
--- a/include/pcp/mem.h
+++ b/include/pcp/mem.h
@@ -41,4 +41,7 @@ void *urmalloc(size_t s);
 /* resize a a pointer and fill the added remainder with zeroes */
 void *ucrealloc(void *d, size_t oldlen, size_t newlen);
 
+/* clear and free */
+void ucfree(void *d, size_t len);
+
 #endif /*  _HAVE_PCP_MEM */
diff --git a/libpcp/mem.c b/libpcp/mem.c
index ce70be9..a74e6b8 100644
--- a/libpcp/mem.c
+++ b/libpcp/mem.c
@@ -65,3 +65,10 @@ void *ucrealloc(void *d, size_t oldlen, size_t newlen) {
 
   return value;
 }
+
+void ucfree(void *d, size_t len) {
+  if(d != NULL) {
+    memset(d, 0, len);
+    free(d);
+  }
+}