diff --git a/c_utils/memusage.c b/c_utils/memusage.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d7ac52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/c_utils/memusage.c
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+/*
+ *  This file is part of libc_utils.
+ *
+ *  libc_utils is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ *  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ *  the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ *  (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ *  libc_utils is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *  GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ *  along with libc_utils; if not, write to the Free Software
+ *  Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ */
+
+/*
+ *  libc_utils is being developed at the Max-Planck-Institut fuer Astrophysik
+ *  and financially supported by the Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt
+ *  (DLR).
+ */
+
+/*
+ *  Functionality for measuring memory consumption
+ *
+ *  Copyright (C) 2012 Max-Planck-Society
+ *  Author: Martin Reinecke
+ */
+#define _GNU_SOURCE
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include "memusage.h"
+
+double residentSetSize(void)
+  {
+  FILE *statm = fopen("/proc/self/statm","r");
+  double res;
+  if (!statm) return -1.0;
+  fscanf(statm,"%*f %lf",&res);
+  fclose(statm);
+  return (res*4096);
+  }
+
+double VmHWM(void)
+  {
+  char word[1024];
+  FILE *f = fopen("/proc/self/status", "r");
+  double res;
+  if (!f) return -1.0;
+  while(1)
+    {
+    if (fscanf (f,"%1023s",word)<0)
+      { fclose(f); return -1.0; }
+    if (!strncmp(word, "VmHWM:", 6))
+      {
+      fscanf(f,"%lf",&res);
+      fscanf(f,"%2s",word);
+      if (strncmp(word, "kB", 2))
+        { fclose(f); return -1.0; }
+      res *=1024;
+      fclose(f);
+      return res;
+      }
+    }
+  }
diff --git a/c_utils/memusage.h b/c_utils/memusage.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc11bd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/c_utils/memusage.h
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ *  This file is part of libc_utils.
+ *
+ *  libc_utils is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ *  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ *  the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ *  (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ *  libc_utils is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *  GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ *  along with libc_utils; if not, write to the Free Software
+ *  Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ */
+
+/*
+ *  libc_utils is being developed at the Max-Planck-Institut fuer Astrophysik
+ *  and financially supported by the Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt
+ *  (DLR).
+ */
+
+/*! \file memusage.h
+ *  Functionality for measuring memory consumption
+ *
+ *  Copyright (C) 2012 Max-Planck-Society
+ *  \author Martin Reinecke
+ */
+
+#ifndef PLANCK_WALLTIME_C_H
+#define PLANCK_WALLTIME_C_H
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+/*! Returns the current resident set size in bytes.
+    \note Currently only supported on Linux. Returns -1 if unsupported. */
+double residentSetSize(void);
+
+/*! Returns the high water mark of the resident set size in bytes.
+    \note Currently only supported on Linux. Returns -1 if unsupported. */
+double VmHWM(void);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif
diff --git a/c_utils/planck.make b/c_utils/planck.make
index f4a2d30..4f0ccb1 100644
--- a/c_utils/planck.make
+++ b/c_utils/planck.make
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ FULL_INCLUDE+= -I$(SD)
 HDR_$(PKG):=$(SD)/*.h
 LIB_$(PKG):=$(LIBDIR)/libc_utils.a
 
-OBJ:=c_utils.o walltime_c.o
+OBJ:=c_utils.o walltime_c.o memusage.o
 OBJ:=$(OBJ:%=$(OD)/%)
 
 $(OBJ): $(HDR_$(PKG)) | $(OD)_mkdir
diff --git a/libsharp/sharp_test.c b/libsharp/sharp_test.c
index a0b192c..8f9c86c 100644
--- a/libsharp/sharp_test.c
+++ b/libsharp/sharp_test.c
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
 #include "c_utils.h"
 #include "sharp_announce.h"
 #include "sharp_core.h"
+#include "memusage.h"
 
 typedef complex double dcmplx;
 
@@ -239,6 +240,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
   else
     UTIL_FAIL("unknown grid geometry");
 
+printf("\nMemory high water mark: %.2f MB\n",VmHWM()/(1<<20));
+
 #ifdef USE_MPI
   MPI_Finalize();
 #endif