diff --git a/zsh/functions.zsh b/zsh/functions.zsh
index 4af67e4..a808e37 100644
--- a/zsh/functions.zsh
+++ b/zsh/functions.zsh
@@ -350,3 +350,6 @@ function list-large-files {
   echo $LIST | grep '^[0-9.]*M.' | sort -n
   echo $LIST | grep '^[0-9.]*G.' | sort -n
 }
+yell() { echo "$0: $*" >&2; }
+die() { yell "$*"; exit 111; }
+try() { "$@" || die "cannot $*"; }