diff --git a/kernel/compat.cc b/kernel/compat.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f2a3638fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kernel/compat.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#include "hashlib.h"
+#include "rtlil.h"
+
+YOSYS_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
+
+/**
+ * not sure if I need this file but this couldn't go in either
+ * hashlib or rtlil without adding an include to the other header
+ */
+
+dict<RTLIL::IdString, RTLIL::Const> cell_to_mod_params (const RTLIL::Cell::FakeParams& cell_params) {
+    dict<RTLIL::IdString, RTLIL::Const> ret;
+    for (auto i : cell_params){
+        ret[i.first] = i.second;
+    }
+    return ret;
+
+}
+
+YOSYS_NAMESPACE_END
diff --git a/kernel/compat.h b/kernel/compat.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..197550942
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kernel/compat.h
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+// TODO header whatever
+
+#ifndef COMPAT_H
+#define COMPAT_H
+dict<RTLIL::IdString, RTLIL::Const> cell_to_mod_params (const RTLIL::Cell::FakeParams& cell_params);
+#endif