+/**
+ * ERR_CAST - Explicitly cast an error-valued pointer to another pointer type
+ * @ptr: The pointer to cast.
+ *
+ * Explicitly cast an error-valued pointer to another pointer type in such a
+ * way as to make it clear that's what's going on.
+ */
+static inline void *ERR_CAST(const void *ptr)
+{
+ /* cast away the const */
+ return (void *) ptr;
+}
+