diff --git a/functions b/functions
index 1cb0302a..1816fd28 100644
--- a/functions
+++ b/functions
@@ -13,4 +13,39 @@ ask_ok() {
 is_root() {
     user=$(whoami)
     [[ $user != "root" ]] && echo "Script must be run with sudo rights!" && exit 1
-}
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+}
+
+if ! type -t readarray >/dev/null; then
+  readarray() {
+    local cmd opt t v=MAPFILE
+    while [ -n "$1" ]; do
+      case "$1" in
+      -h|--help) echo "minimal substitute readarray for older bash"; exit; ;;
+      -r) shift; opt="$opt -r"; ;;
+      -t) shift; t=1; ;;
+      -u) 
+          shift; 
+          if [ -n "$1" ]; then
+            opt="$opt -u $1"; 
+            shift
+          fi
+          ;;
+      *)
+          if [[ "$1" =~ ^[A-Za-z_]+$ ]]; then
+            v="$1"
+            shift
+          else
+            echo -en "${C_BOLD}${C_RED}Error: ${C_RESET}Unknown option: '$1'\n" 1>&2
+            exit
+          fi
+          ;;
+      esac
+    done
+    cmd="read $opt"
+    eval "$v=()"
+    while IFS= eval "$cmd line"; do      
+      line=$(echo "$line" | sed -e "s#\([\"\`]\)#\\\\\1#g" )
+      eval "${v}+=(\"$line\")"
+    done
+  }
+fi
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