diff --git a/libjava/ChangeLog b/libjava/ChangeLog
index d950e93ecf9..c39097bc503 100644
--- a/libjava/ChangeLog
+++ b/libjava/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+2004-11-17  Michael Koch  <konqueror@gmx.de>
+
+	*  java/nio/DirectByteBufferImpl.java
+	(owner): Updated comment.
+	(allocate): New method.
+
 2004-11-17  Michael Koch  <konqueror@gmx.de>
 
 	* java/net/URL.java (URL): Handle case when argument is null.
diff --git a/libjava/java/nio/DirectByteBufferImpl.java b/libjava/java/nio/DirectByteBufferImpl.java
index aad5dca1e5d..89be156d432 100644
--- a/libjava/java/nio/DirectByteBufferImpl.java
+++ b/libjava/java/nio/DirectByteBufferImpl.java
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ final class DirectByteBufferImpl extends ByteBuffer
       }
   }
   
-  /** Used by MappedByteBufferImpl to prevent premature GC. */
+  /** Used by MappedByteBufferImpl and when slicing to prevent premature GC. */
   protected Object owner;
 
   RawData address;
@@ -73,6 +73,14 @@ final class DirectByteBufferImpl extends ByteBuffer
     this.owner = owner;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Allocates a new direct byte buffer.
+   */ 
+  public static ByteBuffer allocate(int capacity)
+  {
+    return new DirectByteBufferImpl(allocateImpl(capacity), capacity);
+  }
+
   private static native RawData allocateImpl (int capacity);
   private static native void freeImpl (RawData address);