const char *name,
struct config_item_type *type);
-extern struct config_item * config_item_get(struct config_item *);
+extern struct config_item *config_item_get(struct config_item *);
+extern struct config_item *config_item_get_unless_zero(struct config_item *);
extern void config_item_put(struct config_item *);
struct config_item_type {