diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index 85e0055c..7ec11776 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ endif
 
 CFILES = \
 	box.c \
+	menu.c \
 	test.c
 HFILES = \
 	ui.h \
diff --git a/menu.c b/menu.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eb0b79c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/menu.c
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+// 20 april 2015
+#include "uipriv.h"
+
+// dummy items for various predefined menu identifiers
+// these are so we can get a definite unique pointer value
+static volatile char dummyQuit = 'q';
+static volatile char dummyPreferences = 'p';
+static volatile char dummyAbout = 'a';
+
+const char *const uiMenuQuitItem = &dummyQuit;
+const char *const uiMenuPreferencesItem = &dummyPreferences;
+const char *const uiMenuAboutItem = &dummyAbout;