diff --git a/include/plasp/utils/IO.h b/include/plasp/utils/IO.h
index d2d022e..75005f7 100644
--- a/include/plasp/utils/IO.h
+++ b/include/plasp/utils/IO.h
@@ -40,6 +40,17 @@ inline std::string unescapeASP(const std::string &string)
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
+inline std::string escapeASPVariable(const std::string &string)
+{
+	auto escaped = escapeASP(string);
+
+	escaped.front() = std::toupper(escaped.front());
+
+	return escaped;
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
 }
 }