diff --git a/lib/libalpm/alpm.h b/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
index e9b0feb..eab10de 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
+++ b/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
@@ -1326,7 +1326,8 @@ typedef enum _alpm_errno_t {
 	ALPM_ERR_LIBARCHIVE,
 	ALPM_ERR_LIBCURL,
 	ALPM_ERR_EXTERNAL_DOWNLOAD,
-	ALPM_ERR_GPGME
+	ALPM_ERR_GPGME,
+	ALPM_ERR_NOT_LARGEFILE
 } alpm_errno_t;
 
 /** Returns the current error code from the handle. */
@@ -1338,8 +1339,13 @@ const char *alpm_strerror(alpm_errno_t err);
 /* End of alpm_api_errors */
 /** @} */
 
-alpm_handle_t *alpm_initialize(const char *root, const char *dbpath,
-		alpm_errno_t *err);
+#define alpm_initialize(root,dbpath,err) \
+  alpm_initialize_check_largefile(root, dbpath, err, sizeof(off_t))
+
+/** (This would be a good place to document the largefile issue) */
+alpm_handle_t *alpm_initialize_check_largefile(const char *root,
+		const char *dbpath, alpm_errno_t *err, size_t sizeof_off_t);
+
 int alpm_release(alpm_handle_t *handle);
 
 enum alpm_caps {
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/alpm.c b/lib/libalpm/alpm.c
index 878c38b..a96e69c 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/alpm.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/alpm.c
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@
  * @{
  */
 
+/* leave alpm_initialize in the .so for backwards compatibility */
+#undef alpm_initialize
+
 /** Initializes the library.
  * Creates handle, connects to database and creates lockfile.
  * This must be called before any other functions are called.
@@ -87,6 +90,16 @@ cleanup:
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+alpm_handle_t SYMEXPORT *alpm_initialize_check_largefile(const char *root,
+		const char *dbpath, alpm_errno_t *err, size_t sizeof_off_t)
+{
+	if (sizeof(off_t) != sizeof_off_t) {
+		if (err) *err = ALPM_ERR_NOT_LARGEFILE;
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return alpm_initialize(root, dbpath, err);
+}
+
 /** Release the library.
  * Disconnects from the database, removes handle and lockfile
  * This should be the last alpm call you make.