  We investigate the impact of extra vector-like GUT multiplets on the
predicted value of the strong coupling. We find in particular that Yukawa
couplings between such extra multiplets and the MSSM Higgs doublets can resolve
the familiar two-loop discrepancy between the SUSY GUT prediction and the
measured value of alpha_3. Our analysis highlights the advantages of the
holomorphic scheme, where the perturbative running of gauge couplings is
saturated at one loop and further corrections are conveniently described in
terms of wavefunction renormalization factors. If the gauge couplings as well
as the extra Yukawas are of O(1) at the unification scale, the relevant
two-loop correction can be obtained analytically. However, the effect persists
also in the weakly-coupled domain, where possible non-perturbative corrections
at the GUT scale are under better control.
