diff --git a/swig_common.i b/swig_common.i
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..617b97551a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/swig_common.i
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+%typemap(newfree) char * "free($1);";
+%newobject getGlobalVariable;