diff --git a/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.hxx b/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.hxx
index 082cfb82..ef7a5864 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.hxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/util/SGReaderWriterOptions.hxx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #define SGREADERWRITEROPTIONS_HXX 1
 
 #include <osgDB/Options>
+#include <osgDB/Registry>
 #include <simgear/scene/model/modellib.hxx>
 #include <simgear/props/props.hxx>
 
@@ -92,6 +93,17 @@ public:
     void setInstantiateEffects(bool instantiateEffects)
     { _instantiateEffects = instantiateEffects; }
 
+    static SGReaderWriterOptions* copyOrCreate(const osgDB::Options* options)
+    {
+        if (!options)
+            options = osgDB::Registry::instance()->getOptions();
+        if (!options)
+            return new SGReaderWriterOptions;
+        if (!dynamic_cast<const SGReaderWriterOptions*>(options))
+            return new SGReaderWriterOptions(*options);
+        return new SGReaderWriterOptions(*static_cast<const SGReaderWriterOptions*>(options));
+    }
+
 protected:
     virtual ~SGReaderWriterOptions() {}