diff --git a/binutils/is-strip.c b/binutils/is-strip.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f5e1caceb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/binutils/is-strip.c
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+/* Linked with copy.o to flag that this program is 'strip' (not 'copy'). */
+
+int is_strip = 1;
diff --git a/binutils/maybe-strip.c b/binutils/maybe-strip.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7da8763cd9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/binutils/maybe-strip.c
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+/* Linked with copy.o to flag that this program decides at runtime
+   (using argv[0] if it is is 'strip' or 'copy'. */
+
+int is_strip = -1;
diff --git a/binutils/not-strip.c b/binutils/not-strip.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0e491fb393
--- /dev/null
+++ b/binutils/not-strip.c
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+/* Linked with copy.o to flag that this program is 'copy' (not 'strip'). */
+
+int is_strip = 0;