diff --git a/src/evhelper.cpp b/src/evhelper.cpp
index 66cb52b..d036a2f 100644
--- a/src/evhelper.cpp
+++ b/src/evhelper.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 #include "evhelper.h"
 #include "pvaproto.h"
+#include "utilpvt.h"
 #include <pvxs/log.h>
 
 namespace pvxsimpl {
diff --git a/src/evhelper.h b/src/evhelper.h
index 1e7cb6d..c19470a 100644
--- a/src/evhelper.h
+++ b/src/evhelper.h
@@ -17,23 +17,13 @@
 #include <event2/bufferevent.h>
 
 #include <pvxs/version.h>
-#include <pvxs/util.h>
+#include <utilpvt.h>
 
 #include "pvaproto.h"
 
 namespace pvxsimpl {
 using namespace  pvxs;
 
-//! in-line string builder (eg. for exception messages)
-//! eg. @code throw std::runtime_error(SB()<<"Some message"<<42); @endcode
-struct SB {
-    std::ostringstream strm;
-    SB() {}
-    operator std::string() const { return strm.str(); }
-    template<typename T>
-    SB& operator<<(T i) { strm<<i; return *this; }
-};
-
 struct PVXS_API evbase {
     explicit evbase(const std::string& name, unsigned prio=0);
     ~evbase();
diff --git a/src/util.cpp b/src/util.cpp
index c9a163c..34dff87 100644
--- a/src/util.cpp
+++ b/src/util.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@
 
 #include <ctype.h>
 
+#include <epicsStdlib.h>
+
 #include <pvxs/util.h>
+#include "utilpvt.h"
 
 namespace pvxs {
 
@@ -218,3 +221,19 @@ std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& strm, const SockAddr& addr)
 }
 
 }
+
+namespace pvxsimpl {
+namespace detail {
+
+template<>
+unsigned short as_str<unsigned short>::op(const char *s)
+{
+    epicsUInt16 ret;
+    if(int err = epicsParseUInt16(s, &ret, 0, nullptr)) {
+        (void)err;
+        throw std::runtime_error(SB()<<"Unable to parse as uint16 : "<<s);
+    }
+    return ret;
+}
+
+}}
diff --git a/src/utilpvt.h b/src/utilpvt.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a57dd26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utilpvt.h
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright - See the COPYRIGHT that is included with this distribution.
+ * pvxs is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+ * in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+ */
+#ifndef UTILPVT_H
+#define UTILPVT_H
+
+#include <string>
+#include <sstream>
+
+#include <pvxs/version.h>
+#include <pvxs/util.h>
+
+namespace pvxsimpl {
+using namespace  pvxs;
+
+//! in-line string builder (eg. for exception messages)
+//! eg. @code throw std::runtime_error(SB()<<"Some message"<<42); @endcode
+struct SB {
+    std::ostringstream strm;
+    SB() {}
+    operator std::string() const { return strm.str(); }
+    template<typename T>
+    SB& operator<<(T i) { strm<<i; return *this; }
+};
+
+namespace detail {
+// specific specializations in util.cpp
+template <typename T>
+struct as_str {PVXS_API static T op(const char *s);};
+} // namespace detail
+
+template <typename T>
+inline T lexical_cast(const char *s)
+{
+    return detail::as_str<T>::op(s);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+inline T lexical_cast(const std::string& s)
+{
+    return detail::as_str<T>::op(s.c_str());
+}
+
+} // namespace pvxsimpl
+
+#endif // UTILPVT_H
diff --git a/tools/pvxvct.cpp b/tools/pvxvct.cpp
index bf4ac8d..0fa0670 100644
--- a/tools/pvxvct.cpp
+++ b/tools/pvxvct.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <pvxs/log.h>
 
 #include <udp_collector.h>
+#include <utilpvt.h>
 #include <pvaproto.h>
 
 namespace pva = pvxsimpl;