diff --git a/scsh/utilities.scm b/scsh/utilities.scm
index 7fca411..c70a07e 100644
--- a/scsh/utilities.scm
+++ b/scsh/utilities.scm
@@ -109,6 +109,12 @@
 	((< i 0) ans)
       (vector-set! ans i (vector-ref v i)))))
 
+(define (initialize-vector len init)
+  (let ((v (make-vector len)))
+    (do ((i (- len 1) (- i 1)))
+	((< i 0) v)
+      (vector-set! v i (init i)))))
+
 (define (check-arg pred val caller)
   (if (pred val) val
       (check-arg pred (error "Bad argument" val pred caller) caller)))