diff --git a/src/topology/parser.c b/src/topology/parser.c
index e70173f6..01c95afa 100644
--- a/src/topology/parser.c
+++ b/src/topology/parser.c
@@ -21,6 +21,25 @@
 #include "list.h"
 #include "tplg_local.h"
 
+/*
+ * Safe strtol call
+ */
+int safe_strtol_base(const char *str, long *val, int base)
+{
+	char *end;
+	long v;
+	if (!*str)
+		return -EINVAL;
+	errno = 0;
+	v = strtol(str, &end, base);
+	if (errno)
+		return -errno;
+	if (*end)
+		return -EINVAL;
+	*val = v;
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Get integer value
  */