diff --git a/libsysutils/src/SocketClient.cpp b/libsysutils/src/SocketClient.cpp
index d9fc48c..d9713a6 100644
--- a/libsysutils/src/SocketClient.cpp
+++ b/libsysutils/src/SocketClient.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <pthread.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <arpa/inet.h>
 
 #define LOG_TAG "SocketClient"
 #include <cutils/log.h>
@@ -78,6 +79,34 @@
     return ret;
 }
 
+
+int SocketClient::sendBinaryMsg(int code, const void *data, int len) {
+
+    /* 5 bytes for the code & space + 4 bytes for the len */
+    char buf[9];
+    /* Write the code */
+    snprintf(buf, 5, "%.3d ", code);
+    /* Write the len */
+    uint32_t tmp = htonl(len);
+    memcpy(buf + 5, &tmp, sizeof(uint32_t));
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&mWriteMutex);
+    int result = sendDataLocked(buf, sizeof(buf));
+    if (result == 0 && len > 0) {
+        result = sendDataLocked(data, len);
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&mWriteMutex);
+
+    return result;
+}
+
+// Sends the code (c-string null-terminated).
+int SocketClient::sendCode(int code) {
+    char buf[5];
+    snprintf(buf, 5, "%.3d ", code);
+    return sendData(buf, 5);
+}
+
 int SocketClient::sendMsg(const char *msg) {
     if (mSocket < 0) {
         errno = EHOSTUNREACH;
@@ -92,7 +121,16 @@
     return 0;
 }
 
-int SocketClient::sendData(const void* data, int len) {
+int SocketClient::sendData(const void *data, int len) {
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&mWriteMutex);
+    int rc = sendDataLocked(data, len);
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&mWriteMutex);
+
+    return rc;
+}
+
+int SocketClient::sendDataLocked(const void *data, int len) {
     int rc = 0;
     const char *p = (const char*) data;
     int brtw = len;
@@ -101,7 +139,6 @@
         return 0;
     }
 
-    pthread_mutex_lock(&mWriteMutex);
     while (brtw > 0) {
         rc = write(mSocket, p, brtw);
         if (rc > 0) {
@@ -113,7 +150,6 @@
         if (rc < 0 && errno == EINTR)
             continue;
 
-        pthread_mutex_unlock(&mWriteMutex);
         if (rc == 0) {
             SLOGW("0 length write :(");
             errno = EIO;
@@ -122,7 +158,6 @@
         }
         return -1;
     }
-    pthread_mutex_unlock(&mWriteMutex);
     return 0;
 }