diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 9e9eb8d6c..8421e4692 100755
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ set (TEST_SRC
   gamecode/economy_test.c
   gamecode/laws_test.c
   gamecode/market_test.c
+  kernel/ally_test.c
   kernel/battle_test.c
   kernel/building_test.c
   kernel/curse_test.c
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ set (LIB_SRC
   items/xerewards.c
   kernel/alchemy.c
   kernel/alliance.c
+  kernel/ally.c
   kernel/battle.c
   kernel/binarystore.c
   kernel/build.c
diff --git a/src/gamecode/creport.c b/src/gamecode/creport.c
index 0a4768097..90374cb4b 100644
--- a/src/gamecode/creport.c
+++ b/src/gamecode/creport.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ without prior permission by the authors of Eressea.
 /* kernel includes */
 #include <kernel/alchemy.h>
 #include <kernel/alliance.h>
+#include <kernel/ally.h>
 #include <kernel/connection.h>
 #include <kernel/building.h>
 #include <kernel/curse.h>
diff --git a/src/gamecode/laws.c b/src/gamecode/laws.c
index 3e7ca3595..80a819f5c 100755
--- a/src/gamecode/laws.c
+++ b/src/gamecode/laws.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 /* kernel includes */
 #include <kernel/alchemy.h>
 #include <kernel/alliance.h>
+#include <kernel/ally.h>
 #include <kernel/battle.h>
 #include <kernel/connection.h>
 #include <kernel/curse.h>
diff --git a/src/gamecode/report.c b/src/gamecode/report.c
index c01ea5089..898b06c20 100644
--- a/src/gamecode/report.c
+++ b/src/gamecode/report.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 /* kernel includes */
 #include <kernel/alchemy.h>
+#include <kernel/ally.h>
 #include <kernel/connection.h>
 #include <kernel/build.h>
 #include <kernel/building.h>
diff --git a/src/gamecode/xmlreport.c b/src/gamecode/xmlreport.c
index 9ccf72a31..f4e4f9b6d 100644
--- a/src/gamecode/xmlreport.c
+++ b/src/gamecode/xmlreport.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ without prior permission by the authors of Eressea.
 /* kernel includes */
 #include <kernel/alchemy.h>
 #include <kernel/alliance.h>
+#include <kernel/ally.h>
 #include <kernel/connection.h>
 #include <kernel/curse.h>
 #include <kernel/building.h>
diff --git a/src/kernel/ally.c b/src/kernel/ally.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cf5772fd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/kernel/ally.c
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#include "types.h"
+#include "ally.h"
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+ally * ally_find(ally *al, const struct faction *f) {
+  for (;al;al=al->next) {
+    if (al->faction==f) return al;
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
+ally * ally_add(ally **al_p, struct faction *f) {
+  ally * al;
+  while (*al_p) {
+    al = *al_p;
+    if (al->faction==f) return al;
+    al_p = &al->next;
+  }
+  al = (ally *)malloc(sizeof(ally));
+  al->faction = f;
+  al->status = 0;
+  al->next = 0;
+  *al_p = al;
+  return al;
+}
+
+void ally_remove(ally **al_p, struct faction *f) {
+  ally * al;
+  while (*al_p) {
+    al = *al_p;
+    if (al->faction==f) {
+      *al_p = al->next;
+      free(al);
+      break;
+    }
+    al_p = &al->next;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/kernel/ally.h b/src/kernel/ally.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5e09b721c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/kernel/ally.h
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/*
+Copyright (c) 1998-2010, Enno Rehling <enno@eressea.de>
+                         Katja Zedel <katze@felidae.kn-bremen.de
+                         Christian Schlittchen <corwin@amber.kn-bremen.de>
+
+Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
+purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
+copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
+WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
+ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
+OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+**/
+
+#ifndef ALLY_H
+#define ALLY_H
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+  typedef struct ally {
+    struct ally *next;
+    struct faction *faction;
+    int status;
+  } ally;
+
+  ally * ally_find(ally *al, const struct faction *f);
+  ally * ally_add(ally **al_p, struct faction *f);
+  void ally_remove(ally **al_p, struct faction *f);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/kernel/ally_test.c b/src/kernel/ally_test.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c7b8500ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/kernel/ally_test.c
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#include <platform.h>
+#include "types.h"
+#include "ally.h"
+
+#include <CuTest.h>
+#include <tests.h>
+
+static void test_ally(CuTest * tc)
+{
+  ally * al = 0;
+  struct faction * f1 = test_create_faction(0);
+
+  ally_add(&al, f1);
+  CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, al);
+  CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, f1, ally_find(al, f1)->faction);
+
+  ally_remove(&al, f1);
+  CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, al);
+  CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, ally_find(al, f1));
+}
+
+CuSuite *get_ally_suite(void)
+{
+  CuSuite *suite = CuSuiteNew();
+  SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_ally);
+  return suite;
+}
diff --git a/src/kernel/config.c b/src/kernel/config.c
index 7d84f396a..224923bf3 100644
--- a/src/kernel/config.c
+++ b/src/kernel/config.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 /* kernel includes */
 #include "alliance.h"
+#include "ally.h"
 #include "alchemy.h"
 #include "battle.h"
 #include "connection.h"
diff --git a/src/kernel/config.h b/src/kernel/config.h
index c9c43f89b..23542caf5 100644
--- a/src/kernel/config.h
+++ b/src/kernel/config.h
@@ -113,14 +113,6 @@ extern "C" {
 
 #define i2b(i) ((bool)((i)?(true):(false)))
 
-  typedef struct ally {
-    struct ally *next;
-    struct faction *faction;
-    int status;
-  } ally;
-
-  ally * ally_find(const ally *al, const struct faction *f);
-
   void remove_empty_units_in_region(struct region *r);
   void remove_empty_units(void);
   void remove_empty_factions(void);
diff --git a/src/kernel/faction.c b/src/kernel/faction.c
index 8bf86e30a..ea02a62a1 100755
--- a/src/kernel/faction.c
+++ b/src/kernel/faction.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include "faction.h"
 
 #include "alliance.h"
+#include "ally.h"
 #include "equipment.h"
 #include "group.h"
 #include "item.h"
diff --git a/src/kernel/group.c b/src/kernel/group.c
index 8b6144d82..0e49fd4aa 100755
--- a/src/kernel/group.c
+++ b/src/kernel/group.c
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include "group.h"
 
 /* kernel includes */
-#include "unit.h"
+#include "ally.h"
 #include "faction.h"
 #include "save.h"
+#include "unit.h"
 #include "version.h"
 
 /* attrib includes */
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index c8c39b50f..1ba845cc0 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #include "alchemy.h"
 #include "alliance.h"
+#include "ally.h"
 #include "connection.h"
 #include "building.h"
 #include "faction.h"
diff --git a/src/kernel/types.h b/src/kernel/types.h
index 130d576a0..f6f1e4099 100644
--- a/src/kernel/types.h
+++ b/src/kernel/types.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ typedef short item_t;
 
 struct attrib;
 struct attrib_type;
+struct ally;
 struct building;
 struct building_type;
 struct curse;
diff --git a/src/tests.c b/src/tests.c
index b269663dc..a0c5dcd94 100644
--- a/src/tests.c
+++ b/src/tests.c
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ int RunAllTests(void)
   CuSuiteAddSuite(suite, get_building_suite());
   CuSuiteAddSuite(suite, get_spell_suite());
   CuSuiteAddSuite(suite, get_battle_suite());
+  CuSuiteAddSuite(suite, get_ally_suite());
   /* gamecode */
   CuSuiteAddSuite(suite, get_market_suite());
   CuSuiteAddSuite(suite, get_laws_suite());
diff --git a/src/tests.h b/src/tests.h
index 2b6b91cce..2ea13633e 100644
--- a/src/tests.h
+++ b/src/tests.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ extern "C" {
   CuSuite *get_bsdstring_suite(void);
   CuSuite *get_functions_suite(void);
   CuSuite *get_umlaut_suite(void);
+  CuSuite *get_ally_suite(void);
 
   void test_cleanup(void);