diff --git a/btree.cpp b/btree.cpp
index 661a691..aaa7c47 100644
--- a/btree.cpp
+++ b/btree.cpp
@@ -98,6 +98,16 @@
 } // bTree::getRoot
 
 void
+bTree::setFirstDeleted(uPtr value) {
+  info->firstDeleted = value;
+  if (!memoryTree) {
+    if (!vfs->fSeek((int)&info->firstDeleted - (int)info)) exit(42);
+    if (!vfs->fWrite(&info->firstDeleted, sizeof(info->firstDeleted))) exit(42);
+  } // if not memoryTree
+  return;
+} // bTree::setFirstDeleted
+
+void
 bTree::setNull(uPtr & u) {
   u.offset = 0;
 } // bTree::setNull
diff --git a/btree.h b/btree.h
index ef5f306..9974992 100644
--- a/btree.h
+++ b/btree.h
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
   uInt32   getHeight(void);
   uInt32   getKeys(void);
   uPtr     getRoot(void);
+
+  void     setFirstDeleted(uPtr);
   void     setNull(uPtr &);
  public:
            bTree(char *, uInt32, treeTypes, bTreeVFS *);