diff --git a/site_ansto/instrument/util/extra_utility.tcl b/site_ansto/instrument/util/extra_utility.tcl
index 88ffbab5..ba8da11f 100644
--- a/site_ansto/instrument/util/extra_utility.tcl
+++ b/site_ansto/instrument/util/extra_utility.tcl
@@ -236,3 +236,13 @@ proc error_msg {args} {
   set arglist [lrange $cmdinfo 1 end]
   error "ERROR: [namespace origin $cmd] $arglist: $args"
 }
+
+# Use this function if you expect a decimal number which might be
+# padded with zeroes.
+# \brief Strips leading zeroes from decimal numbers.
+# NOTE: It's up to you to check if the unpadded string is a valid number.
+#
+# Handles 0 and numbers prefixed with - or +.
+proc unpad {n} {
+  return [regsub {([+-])?0*(\d+)} $n {\1\2}]
+}