diff --git a/script-modules/util.sh b/script-modules/util.sh
index 38ab0bdf..8305a1af 100644
--- a/script-modules/util.sh
+++ b/script-modules/util.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ echo_cmd() {
 	return $?
 }
 
+# Lets us avoid use of wc
+numwords() {
+	echo "$#"
+}
+
 find_tool() {
 	while [ -n "$1" ]; do
 		if [ -n "$1" ] && command -v "$1" > /dev/null; then