diff --git a/src/libsunrpc/error.c b/src/libsunrpc/error.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c6bd5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libsunrpc/error.c
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#include <u.h>
+#include <libc.h>
+#include <thread.h>
+#include <sunrpc.h>
+
+static struct {
+	SunStatus status;
+	char *msg;
+} tab[] = {
+	SunProgUnavail,	"program unavailable",
+	SunProgMismatch,	"program mismatch",
+	SunProcUnavail,	"procedure unavailable",
+	SunGarbageArgs,	"garbage args",
+	SunSystemErr,		"system error",
+	SunRpcMismatch,	"rpc mismatch",
+	SunAuthBadCred,	"bad auth cred",
+	SunAuthRejectedCred,	"rejected auth cred",
+	SunAuthBadVerf,	"bad auth verf",
+	SunAuthRejectedVerf,	"rejected auth verf",
+	SunAuthTooWeak,	"auth too weak",
+	SunAuthInvalidResp,	"invalid auth response",
+	SunAuthFailed,		"auth failed",
+};
+
+void
+sunerrstr(SunStatus status)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	for(i=0; i<nelem(tab); i++){
+		if(tab[i].status == status){
+			werrstr(tab[i].msg);
+			return;
+		}
+	}
+	werrstr("unknown sun error %d", (int)status);
+}