diff --git a/cmds/dumpstate/dumpstate.h b/cmds/dumpstate/dumpstate.h
index f10ec46..f9f20d2 100644
--- a/cmds/dumpstate/dumpstate.h
+++ b/cmds/dumpstate/dumpstate.h
@@ -17,6 +17,18 @@
 #ifndef _DUMPSTATE_H_
 #define _DUMPSTATE_H_
 
+/* When defined, skips the real dumps and just print the section headers.
+   Useful when debugging dumpstate itself. */
+//#define _DUMPSTATE_DRY_RUN_
+
+#ifdef _DUMPSTATE_DRY_RUN_
+#define ON_DRY_RUN_RETURN(X) return X
+#endif
+#ifndef _DUMPSTATE_DRY_RUN_
+#define ON_DRY_RUN_RETURN(X)
+#endif
+
+
 #include <time.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
@@ -52,6 +64,11 @@
 /* forks a command and waits for it to finish -- terminate args with NULL */
 int run_command(const char *title, int timeout_seconds, const char *command, ...);
 
+/* forks a command and waits for it to finish
+   first element of args is the command, and last must be NULL.
+   command is always ran, even when _DUMPSTATE_DRY_RUN_ is defined. */
+int run_command_always(const char *title, int timeout_seconds, const char *args[]);
+
 /* prints all the system properties */
 void print_properties();