diff --git a/src/ops.c b/src/ops.c
index f4524d3..aa6f4af 100644
--- a/src/ops.c
+++ b/src/ops.c
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 static void shift_block(oparg_T *oap, int amount);
 static void	mb_adjust_opend(oparg_T *oap);
 static int	do_addsub(int op_type, pos_T *pos, int length, linenr_T Prenum1);
+static void	pbyte(pos_T lp, int c);
+#define PBYTE(lp, c) pbyte(lp, c)
+
 
 // Flags for third item in "opchars".
 #define OPF_LINES  1	// operator always works on lines
@@ -4349,3 +4352,18 @@
     restore_lbr(lbr_saved);
 #endif
 }
+
+// put byte 'c' at position 'lp', but
+// verify, that the position to place
+// is actually safe
+    static void
+pbyte(pos_T lp, int c)
+{
+    char_u *p = ml_get_buf(curbuf, lp.lnum, TRUE);
+    int	len = curbuf->b_ml.ml_line_len;
+
+    // safety check
+    if (lp.col >= len)
+	lp.col = (len > 1 ? len - 2 : 0);
+    *(p + lp.col) = c;
+}