diff --git a/src/h5/h5_private.h b/src/h5/h5_private.h
index aaa46f5..44e53dc 100644
--- a/src/h5/h5_private.h
+++ b/src/h5/h5_private.h
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #ifndef __H5_PRIVATE_H
 #define __H5_PRIVATE_H
 
+#include "errorhandling_private.h"
+
 #define H5B_CONTAINER_GRPNAME		"Block"
 
 #define H5T_CONTAINER_GRPNAME		"Topo"
@@ -13,4 +15,32 @@
 
 #define H5BLOCK_GROUPNAME_BLOCK	H5B_CONTAINER_GRPNAME
 
+#define SET_FNAME( fname )	H5_set_funcname( fname );
+
+#define CHECK_FILEHANDLE( f ) \
+	if ( f == NULL ) \
+		return HANDLE_H5_BADFD_ERR;
+
+#define CHECK_WRITABLE_MODE( f )  \
+	if ( f->mode==H5PART_READ ) \
+		return (*H5_get_errorhandler()) (	\
+			H5_get_funcname(), \
+			H5_ERR_INVAL, \
+			"Attempting to write to read-only file" );
+
+#define CHECK_READONLY_MODE( f )  \
+	if ( ! f->mode==H5PART_READ ) \
+		return (*H5_get_errorhandler()) (	\
+			H5_get_funcname(), \
+			H5_ERR_INVAL, \
+			"Operation is not allowed on writable files." );
+
+#define CHECK_TIMEGROUP( f ) \
+	if ( f->step_gid <= 0 ) \
+		return (*H5_get_errorhandler()) (	\
+			H5_get_funcname(), \
+			H5_ERR_INVAL, \
+			"Internal error: step_gid <= 0.");
+
+
 #endif