diff --git a/ccnx/ccnx-common.h b/ccnx/ccnx-common.h
index 41d7814..985965c 100644
--- a/ccnx/ccnx-common.h
+++ b/ccnx/ccnx-common.h
@@ -86,6 +86,16 @@
     return BytesPtr ();
 }
 
+template<class Msg>
+inline BytesPtr
+serializeMsg(const Msg &msg)
+{
+  int size = msg->ByteSize ();
+  BytesPtr bytes (new Bytes (size));
+  msg->SerializeToArray (head(*bytes), size);
+  return bytes;
+}
+
 // --- Bytes operations end ---
 
 // Exceptions