diff --git a/repos/base/include/util/retry.h b/repos/base/include/util/retry.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d153dbb512
--- /dev/null
+++ b/repos/base/include/util/retry.h
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+ * \brief  Utility to execute a function repeatedly
+ * \author Norman Feske
+ * \author Stefan Kalkowski
+ * \date   2015-04-29
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2015 Genode Labs GmbH
+ *
+ * This file is part of the Genode OS framework, which is distributed
+ * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2.
+ */
+
+#ifndef _INCLUDE__UTIL__RETRY_H_
+#define _INCLUDE__UTIL__RETRY_H_
+
+namespace Genode {
+
+	template <typename EXC, typename FUNC, typename HANDLER>
+	auto retry(FUNC func, HANDLER handler,
+	           unsigned attempts = ~0U) -> decltype(func());
+}
+
+/**
+ * Repeatedly try to execute a function 'func'
+ *
+ * If the function 'func' throws an exception of type 'EXC', the 'handler'
+ * is called and the function call is retried.
+ *
+ * \param EXC       exception type to handle
+ * \param func      functor to execute
+ * \param handler   exception handler executed if 'func' raised an exception
+ *                  of type 'EXC'
+ * \param attempts  number of attempts to execute 'func' before giving up
+ *                  and reflecting the exception 'EXC' to the caller. If not
+ *                  specified, attempt infinitely.
+ */
+template <typename EXC, typename FUNC, typename HANDLER>
+auto Genode::retry(FUNC func, HANDLER handler,
+                   unsigned attempts = ~0U) -> decltype(func())
+{
+	for (unsigned i = 0; attempts == ~0U || i < attempts; i++)
+		try { return func(); }
+		catch (EXC) { handler(); }
+
+	throw EXC();
+}
+
+#endif /* _INCLUDE__UTIL__RETRY_H_ */
diff --git a/repos/base/src/base/env/platform_env_common.h b/repos/base/src/base/env/platform_env_common.h
index 8b73be3270..2836d9d9ca 100644
--- a/repos/base/src/base/env/platform_env_common.h
+++ b/repos/base/src/base/env/platform_env_common.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 #include <base/env.h>
 #include <util/arg_string.h>
+#include <util/retry.h>
 #include <parent/client.h>
 #include <ram_session/client.h>
 #include <rm_session/client.h>
@@ -35,31 +36,6 @@ namespace Genode {
 }
 
 
-/**
- * Repeatedly try to execute a function 'func'
- *
- * If the function 'func' throws an exception of type 'EXC', the 'handler'
- * is called and the function call is retried.
- *
- * \param EXC       exception type to handle
- * \param func      functor to execute
- * \param handler   exception handler executed if 'func' raised an exception
- *                  of type 'EXC'
- * \param attempts  number of attempts to execute 'func' before giving up
- *                  and reflecting the exception 'EXC' to the caller. If not
- *                  specified, attempt infinitely.
- */
-template <typename EXC, typename FUNC, typename HANDLER>
-auto retry(FUNC func, HANDLER handler, unsigned attempts = ~0U) -> decltype(func())
-{
-	for (unsigned i = 0; attempts == ~0U || i < attempts; i++)
-		try { return func(); }
-		catch (EXC) { handler(); }
-
-	throw EXC();
-}
-
-
 /**
  * Client object for a session that may get its session quota upgraded
  */