Index: trunk/src/layer_grp.c
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/layer_grp.c	(revision 21952)
+++ trunk/src/layer_grp.c	(revision 21953)
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@
 	return stack->grp+where+1;
 }
 
-static void pcb_get_grp_new_intern_insert(pcb_board_t *pcb, int room, int bl, int omit_substrate)
+static pcb_layergrp_t *pcb_get_grp_new_intern_insert(pcb_board_t *pcb, int room, int bl, int omit_substrate)
 {
 	pcb_layer_stack_t *stack = &pcb->LayerGroups;
 
@@ -346,6 +346,7 @@
 	bl++;
 	if (!omit_substrate)
 		make_substrate(pcb, &stack->grp[bl]);
+	return &stack->grp[bl-1];
 }
 
 static pcb_layergrp_t *pcb_get_grp_new_intern_(pcb_board_t *pcb, int omit_substrate, int force_end)
@@ -409,6 +410,17 @@
 	return g;
 }
 
+pcb_layergrp_t *pcb_get_grp_new_raw(pcb_board_t *pcb)
+{
+	pcb_layergrp_t *g;
+	inhibit_notify++;
+	g = pcb_get_grp_new_intern_insert(pcb, 1, pcb->LayerGroups.len, 1);
+	inhibit_notify--;
+	NOTIFY(pcb);
+	return g;
+}
+
+
 /* Move an inclusive block of groups [from..to] by delta on the stack, assuming
    target is already cleared and the new hole will be cleared by the caller */
 static void move_grps(pcb_board_t *pcb, pcb_layer_stack_t *stk, pcb_layergrp_id_t from, pcb_layergrp_id_t to, int delta)
Index: trunk/src/layer_grp.h
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/layer_grp.h	(revision 21952)
+++ trunk/src/layer_grp.h	(revision 21953)
@@ -214,6 +214,9 @@
 pcb_layergrp_t *pcb_get_grp_new_intern(pcb_board_t *pcb, int intern_id);
 pcb_layergrp_t *pcb_get_grp_new_misc(pcb_board_t *pcb);
 
+/* append a layer group without any smart side effects - use only from io loaders */
+pcb_layergrp_t *pcb_get_grp_new_raw(pcb_board_t *pcb);
+
 /* ugly hack: remove the extra substrate we added after the outline layer */
 void pcb_layergrp_fix_old_outline(pcb_board_t *pcb);