diff --git a/libsigrok-internal.h b/libsigrok-internal.h
index aa8283f1..05d3f2ae 100644
--- a/libsigrok-internal.h
+++ b/libsigrok-internal.h
@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@
 #define ARRAY_AND_SIZE(a) (a), ARRAY_SIZE(a)
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * Read a 8 bits integer out of memory.
+ * @param x a pointer to the input memory
+ * @return the corresponding integer
+ */
+#define R8(x)     ((unsigned)((const uint8_t*)(x))[0])
+
 /**
  * Read a 16 bits big endian integer out of memory.
  * @param x a pointer to the input memory