diff --git a/src/frontend/subckt.c b/src/frontend/subckt.c
index 86143e3dc..a66060a78 100644
--- a/src/frontend/subckt.c
+++ b/src/frontend/subckt.c
@@ -715,6 +715,54 @@ inp_deckcopy(struct line *deck) {
 }
 
 
+/*
+ * Copy a deck, without the li_actual lines, without comment lines, and
+ * without .control section(s).
+ * First line is always copied (except being .control).
+ */
+struct line *
+inp_deckcopy_oc(struct line *deck)
+{
+    struct line *d = NULL, *nd = NULL;
+    int skip_control = 0;
+
+    while (deck) {
+        /* exclude any command inside .control ... .endc */
+        if (ciprefix(".control", deck->li_line)) {
+            skip_control++;
+            deck = deck->li_next;
+            continue;
+        }
+        else if (ciprefix(".endc", deck->li_line)) {
+            skip_control--;
+            deck = deck->li_next;
+            continue;
+        }
+        else if (skip_control > 0) {
+            deck = deck->li_next;
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (nd) {
+            d->li_next = TMALLOC(struct line, 1);
+            d = d->li_next;
+        }
+        else {
+            nd = d = TMALLOC(struct line, 1);
+        }
+        d->li_linenum = deck->li_linenum;
+        d->li_line = copy(deck->li_line);
+        if (deck->li_error)
+            d->li_error = copy(deck->li_error);
+        d->li_actual = NULL;
+        deck = deck->li_next;
+        while (deck && *(deck->li_line) == '*')
+            deck = deck->li_next;
+    }
+
+    return (nd);
+}
+
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------
  * struct bxx_buffer,
  *   a string assembly facility.
diff --git a/src/frontend/subckt.h b/src/frontend/subckt.h
index 969b7e95c..5cbb9c0f4 100644
--- a/src/frontend/subckt.h
+++ b/src/frontend/subckt.h
@@ -8,5 +8,6 @@
 
 struct line * inp_subcktexpand(struct line *deck);
 struct line * inp_deckcopy(struct line *deck);
+struct line * inp_deckcopy_oc(struct line *deck);
 
 #endif