diff --git a/flib/Makefile b/flib/Makefile
index b7e53fcfe..4d9d8de27 100644
--- a/flib/Makefile
+++ b/flib/Makefile
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ atomic_number.o \
 capital.o \
 dost.o \
 erf.o \
+flush_unit.o \
 functionals.o \
 lsda_functionals.o \
 more_functionals.o \
diff --git a/flib/flush_unit.f90 b/flib/flush_unit.f90
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..58dff8708
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flib/flush_unit.f90
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+!
+! Copyright (C) 2005 PWSCF-FPMD-CPV groups
+! This file is distributed under the terms of the
+! GNU General Public License. See the file `License'
+! in the root directory of the present distribution,
+! or http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.txt .
+!  
+#include "f_defs.h"
+!
+!----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+SUBROUTINE flush_unit( unit_tobeflushed )
+  !----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  !
+  ! ... this is a wrapper to the standard flush routine
+  !
+  INTEGER, INTENT(IN) :: unit_tobeflushed
+  LOGICAL             :: opnd
+  !
+  !
+  INQUIRE( UNIT = unit_tobeflushed, OPENED = opnd )
+  !
+  IF ( opnd ) CALL flush( unit_tobeflushed )
+  !
+  RETURN
+  !
+END SUBROUTINE