diff --git a/src/common/mm_io.cpp b/src/common/mm_io.cpp
index d0a189066..0d59ca2f0 100644
--- a/src/common/mm_io.cpp
+++ b/src/common/mm_io.cpp
@@ -265,6 +265,15 @@ mm_io_c::puts(const std::string &s) {
   return num_written;
 }
 
+memory_cptr
+mm_io_c::read(size_t size) {
+  auto buffer = memory_c::alloc(size);
+  if (read(buffer, size) != size)
+    throw mtx::mm_io::end_of_file_x{};
+
+  return buffer;
+}
+
 uint32_t
 mm_io_c::read(void *buffer,
               size_t size) {
diff --git a/src/common/mm_io.h b/src/common/mm_io.h
index 4245fe8cf..8c6e296ef 100644
--- a/src/common/mm_io.h
+++ b/src/common/mm_io.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ public:
   virtual uint64 getFilePointer() = 0;
   virtual void setFilePointer(int64 offset, seek_mode mode = seek_beginning) = 0;
   virtual bool setFilePointer2(int64 offset, seek_mode mode = seek_beginning);
+  virtual memory_cptr read(size_t size);
   virtual uint32 read(void *buffer, size_t size);
   virtual uint32_t read(std::string &buffer, size_t size, size_t offset = 0);
   virtual uint32_t read(memory_cptr &buffer, size_t size, int offset = 0);