diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index a6fbe09..78a8df6 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -88,3 +88,20 @@
     err = stderr.read()
     code = stdout.channel.recv_exit_status()
     return code, out, err
+
+
+def ssize_to_kb(ssize):
+    try:
+        smap = dict(k=1, K=1, M=1024, m=1024, G=1024**2, g=1024**2)
+        for ext, coef in smap.items():
+            if ssize.endswith(ext):
+                return int(ssize[:-1]) * coef
+
+        if int(ssize) % 1024 != 0:
+            raise ValueError()
+
+        return int(ssize) / 1024
+
+    except (ValueError, TypeError, AttributeError):
+        tmpl = "Unknow size format {0!r} (or size not multiples 1024)"
+        raise ValueError(tmpl.format(ssize))