diff --git a/lib/hcl-prv.h b/lib/hcl-prv.h
index 64a09b4..5753528 100644
--- a/lib/hcl-prv.h
+++ b/lib/hcl-prv.h
@@ -1516,6 +1516,16 @@ hcl_oop_t hcl_makesymbol (
 	hcl_oow_t          len
 );
 
+hcl_oop_t hcl_makesymbolwithbcstr (
+	hcl_t*             hcl,
+	const hcl_bch_t*   ptr
+);
+
+hcl_oop_t hcl_makesymbolwithucstr (
+	hcl_t*             hcl,
+	const hcl_uch_t*   ptr
+);
+
 hcl_oop_t hcl_findsymbol (
 	hcl_t*             hcl,
 	const hcl_ooch_t*  ptr,
diff --git a/lib/sym.c b/lib/sym.c
index 6dccb6e..9ffe2a2 100644
--- a/lib/sym.c
+++ b/lib/sym.c
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ hcl_oop_t hcl_findsymbol (hcl_t* hcl, const hcl_ooch_t* ptr, hcl_oow_t len)
 	return find_or_make_symbol(hcl, ptr, len, 0);
 }
 
-hcl_oop_t hcl_makesymbolwithbcstr (hcl_t* hcl, const hcl_ooch_t* ptr)
+hcl_oop_t hcl_makesymbolwithbcstr (hcl_t* hcl, const hcl_bch_t* ptr)
 {
 #if defined(HCL_OOCH_IS_UCH)
 	hcl_uch_t* ucsptr;
@@ -200,3 +200,20 @@ hcl_oop_t hcl_makesymbolwithbcstr (hcl_t* hcl, const hcl_ooch_t* ptr)
 	return hcl_makesymbol(hcl, ptr, hcl_count_bcstr(ptr));
 #endif
 }
+
+hcl_oop_t hcl_makesymbolwithucstr (hcl_t* hcl, const hcl_uch_t* ptr)
+{
+#if defined(HCL_OOCH_IS_UCH)
+	return hcl_makesymbol(hcl, ptr, hcl_count_bcstr(ptr));
+#else
+	hcl_uch_t* bcsptr;
+	hcl_oow_t bcslen;
+	hcl_oop_t v;
+/* TODO: no duplication? */
+	bcsptr = hcl_duputobcstr(hcl, ptr, &bcslen);
+	if (HCL_UNLIKELY(!bcsptr)) return HCL_NULL;
+	v = hcl_makesymbol(hcl, bcsptr, bcslen);
+	hcl_freemem (hcl, bcsptr);
+	return v;
+#endif
+}