diff --git a/src/client/libdistren.h b/src/client/libdistren.h
--- a/src/client/libdistren.h
+++ b/src/client/libdistren.h
@@ -55,3 +55,10 @@ void *_malloc(distren_t distren, size_t 
    All of libdisren should use this instead of malloc.h's free()
 */
 void _free(distren_t distren, void *tofree);
+
+/**
+   Sets up the distren handle with information garnered from
+   configuration files, etc. Uses the environment variable
+   DISTREN_CONFIG or the built-in default config file location.
+ */
+int _distren_getoptions(distren_t handle);