diff --git a/lib/functions.zsh b/lib/functions.zsh
index efb73a1b..5f8ca6eb 100644
--- a/lib/functions.zsh
+++ b/lib/functions.zsh
@@ -62,6 +62,32 @@ function try_alias_value() {
     alias_value "$1" || echo "$1"
 }
 
+#
+# Alias only if not already a command/function/alias
+# Use option ALLOW_OVERRIDE_ALIASES to force overriding
+#
+# Arguments:
+#    1. my_alias='my alias value'
+#       Same argument you would pass to the "alias" built-in
+# Return value:
+#    0 if the alias was safely created, 73 otherwise
+#
+function safe_alias() {
+    emulate -L zsh
+    local cmd lhs rhs
+    cmd=(${(s:=:)1})
+    lhs=$cmd[1]
+    rhs=$cmd[2,-1]
+    if (( $+commands[$lhs] || $+functions[$lhs] || $+aliases[$lhs] )); then
+        if [[ $ALLOW_OVERRIDE_ALIASES = "true" ]]; then
+            >&2 echo "WARN: override \"$lhs\" with alias \"$rhs\""
+        else
+            return 73  # os.EX_CANTCREAT
+        fi
+    fi
+    alias $lhs="$rhs"
+}
+
 #
 # Set variable "$1" to default value "$2" if "$1" is not yet defined.
 #
diff --git a/templates/zshrc.zsh-template b/templates/zshrc.zsh-template
index 44e8b0d1..ce03da35 100644
--- a/templates/zshrc.zsh-template
+++ b/templates/zshrc.zsh-template
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ ZSH_THEME="robbyrussell"
 # much, much faster.
 # DISABLE_UNTRACKED_FILES_DIRTY="true"
 
+# Uncomment the following line to allow aliases defined in libs and plugins to
+# override existing commands/functions/aliases. A warning will be printed for
+# every alias overriding an existing name.
+# ALLOW_OVERRIDE_ALIASES="true"
+
 # Uncomment the following line if you want to change the command execution time
 # stamp shown in the history command output.
 # The optional three formats: "mm/dd/yyyy"|"dd.mm.yyyy"|"yyyy-mm-dd"