diff --git a/src/libmach/mach.c b/src/libmach/mach.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..89a88f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libmach/mach.c
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#include <u.h>
+#include <libc.h>
+#include <bio.h>
+#include <mach.h>
+
+Mach *mach;
+
+extern Mach mach386;
+extern Mach machpower;
+
+static Mach *machs[] = 
+{
+	&mach386,
+	&machpower,
+};
+
+Mach*
+machbyname(char *name)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	for(i=0; i<nelem(machs); i++)
+		if(strcmp(machs[i]->name, name) == 0){
+			mach = machs[i];
+			return machs[i];
+		}
+	werrstr("machine '%s' not found", name);
+	return nil;
+}
+