diff --git a/libimagstore/src/error.rs b/libimagstore/src/error.rs
index e4c86619..83cb825e 100644
--- a/libimagstore/src/error.rs
+++ b/libimagstore/src/error.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ pub enum StoreErrorKind {
     IdLocked,
     IdNotFound,
     OutOfMemory,
+    FileNotFound,
+    FileNotCreated,
     // maybe more
 }
 
@@ -19,6 +21,8 @@ fn store_error_type_as_str(e: &StoreErrorKind) -> &'static str {
         &StoreErrorKind::IdLocked    => "ID locked",
         &StoreErrorKind::IdNotFound  => "ID not found",
         &StoreErrorKind::OutOfMemory => "Out of Memory",
+        &StoreErrorKind::FileNotFound => "File corresponding to ID not found",
+        &StoreErrorKind::FileNotCreated => "File corresponding to ID could not be created",
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/libimagstore/src/lazyfile.rs b/libimagstore/src/lazyfile.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..29a598b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libimagstore/src/lazyfile.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+
+use error::{StoreError, StoreErrorKind};
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+use std::fs::{File, OpenOptions};
+
+pub enum LazyFile {
+    Absent(PathBuf),
+    File(File)
+}
+
+fn open_file<A: AsRef<Path>>(p: A) -> ::std::io::Result<File> {
+    OpenOptions::new().write(true).read(true).open(p)
+}
+
+fn create_file<A: AsRef<Path>>(p: A) -> ::std::io::Result<File> {
+    OpenOptions::new().write(true).read(true).create(true).open(p)
+}
+
+impl LazyFile {
+    pub fn new(p: PathBuf) -> LazyFile {
+        LazyFile::Absent(p)
+    }
+    pub fn new_with_file(f: File) -> LazyFile {
+        LazyFile::File(f)
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_file(&mut self) -> Result<&File, StoreError> {
+        let file = match *self {
+            LazyFile::File(ref f) => return Ok(f),
+            LazyFile::Absent(ref p) => {
+                try!(open_file(p).map_err(|e| {
+                    StoreError::new(StoreErrorKind::FileNotFound,
+                                    Some(Box::new(e)))
+                }))
+
+            }
+        };
+        *self = LazyFile::File(file);
+        if let LazyFile::File(ref f) = *self {
+            return Ok(f);
+        }
+        unreachable!()
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_file_mut(&mut self) -> Result<&mut File, StoreError> {
+        let file = match *self {
+            LazyFile::File(ref mut f) => return Ok(f),
+            LazyFile::Absent(ref p) => {
+                try!(open_file(p).map_err(|e| {
+                    StoreError::new(StoreErrorKind::FileNotFound,
+                                    Some(Box::new(e)))
+                }))
+            }
+        };
+        *self = LazyFile::File(file);
+        if let LazyFile::File(ref mut f) = *self {
+            return Ok(f);
+        }
+        unreachable!()
+    }
+
+    pub fn create_file(&mut self) -> Result<&mut File, StoreError> {
+        let file = match *self {
+            LazyFile::File(ref mut f) => return Ok(f),
+            LazyFile::Absent(ref p) => {
+                try!(create_file(p).map_err(|e| {
+                    StoreError::new(StoreErrorKind::FileNotFound,
+                                    Some(Box::new(e)))
+                }))
+            }
+        };
+        *self = LazyFile::File(file);
+        if let LazyFile::File(ref mut f) = *self {
+            return Ok(f);
+        }
+        unreachable!()
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::LazyFile;
+    use std::io::{Read, Write};
+    use std::path::PathBuf;
+    use std::fs::File;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn lazy_file() {
+        let path = PathBuf::from("/tmp/test");
+        let mut lf = LazyFile::new(path);
+
+        write!(lf.create_file().unwrap(), "Hello World").unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn lazy_file_with_file() {
+        let path = PathBuf::from("/tmp/test2");
+        let mut lf = LazyFile::new_with_file(File::create(path).unwrap());
+        let mut file = lf.get_file_mut().unwrap();
+
+        write!(file, "Hello World").unwrap();
+        file.sync_all().unwrap();
+        let mut s = String::new();
+        file.read_to_string(&mut s).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(s, "Hello World");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/libimagstore/src/lib.rs b/libimagstore/src/lib.rs
index 12c0e09d..1296d6dd 100644
--- a/libimagstore/src/lib.rs
+++ b/libimagstore/src/lib.rs
@@ -6,4 +6,5 @@ pub mod entry;
 pub mod error;
 pub mod header;
 pub mod store;
+mod lazyfile;