--- a/src/getchar.c
+++ b/src/getchar.c
@@ -685,6 +685,46 @@ stuffnumReadbuff(long n)
 }
 
 /*
+ * Stuff a string into the typeahead buffer, such that edit() will insert it
+ * literally ("literally" TRUE) or interpret is as typed characters.
+ */
+    void
+stuffescaped(char_u *arg, int literally)
+{
+    int		c;
+    char_u	*start;
+
+    while (*arg != NUL)
+    {
+	// Stuff a sequence of normal ASCII characters, that's fast.  Also
+	// stuff K_SPECIAL to get the effect of a special key when "literally"
+	// is TRUE.
+	start = arg;
+	while ((*arg >= ' '
+#ifndef EBCDIC
+		    && *arg < DEL // EBCDIC: chars above space are normal
+#endif
+		    )
+		|| (*arg == K_SPECIAL && !literally))
+	    ++arg;
+	if (arg > start)
+	    stuffReadbuffLen(start, (long)(arg - start));
+
+	// stuff a single special character
+	if (*arg != NUL)
+	{
+	    if (has_mbyte)
+		c = mb_cptr2char_adv(&arg);
+	    else
+		c = *arg++;
+	    if (literally && ((c < ' ' && c != TAB) || c == DEL))
+		stuffcharReadbuff(Ctrl_V);
+	    stuffcharReadbuff(c);
+	}
+    }
+}
+
+/*
  * Read a character from the redo buffer.  Translates K_SPECIAL, CSI and
  * multibyte characters.
  * The redo buffer is left as it is.