diff --git a/src/str.cpp b/src/str.cpp
index e1ba1c7e..2446aad7 100644
--- a/src/str.cpp
+++ b/src/str.cpp
@@ -291,6 +291,14 @@ str::startswith(const string      &str_,
           (str_.compare(0,prefix_.size(),prefix_) == 0));
 }
 
+bool
+str::startswith(const string &str_,
+                const char   *prefix_)
+{
+  return ((str_.size() >= prefix_.size()) &&
+          (str_.compare(0,prefix_.size(),prefix_) == 0));
+}
+
 bool
 str::endswith(const string &str_,
               const string &suffix_)