diff --git a/src/capwap/mbag.c b/src/capwap/mbag.c
index 19888185..2e70f455 100644
--- a/src/capwap/mbag.c
+++ b/src/capwap/mbag.c
@@ -30,6 +30,17 @@ static int mbag_strstr(void *item,char *dst)
         return sprintf(dst, "%s", (char*)i->data);
 }
 
+static struct mbag_item *  mbag_fromstr(const char *src)
+{
+	struct mbag_item *i= malloc(sizeof(mbag_item_t));
+	if (!i)
+		return NULL;
+
+	i->type = MBAG_STR;
+	i->data = strdup(src);
+	return i;
+}
+
 
 
 const struct mbag_typedef mbag_type_byte = {
@@ -57,7 +68,7 @@ const struct mbag_typedef mbag_type_bstr16 = {
 };
 
 const struct mbag_typedef mbag_type_str = {
-	"str",free,mbag_strstr
+	"str",free,mbag_strstr,mbag_fromstr
 };
 
 const struct mbag_typedef mbag_type_vendorstr = {