diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
index bebbc3eb7..4701daab7 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
@@ -3740,7 +3740,7 @@ clutter_actor_paint_node (ClutterActor     *actor,
       if (!clutter_stage_get_no_clear_hint (CLUTTER_STAGE (actor)))
         clear_flags |= COGL_BUFFER_BIT_COLOR;
 
-      node = _clutter_root_node_new (fb, &bg_color, clear_flags);
+      node = clutter_root_node_new (fb, &bg_color, clear_flags);
       clutter_paint_node_set_name (node, "stageClear");
       clutter_paint_node_add_rectangle (node, &box);
       clutter_paint_node_add_child (root, node);
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-node-private.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-node-private.h
index e6573ecd9..55cf9efd2 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-node-private.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-node-private.h
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ struct _ClutterPaintOperation
   } op;
 };
 
-GType _clutter_root_node_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 GType _clutter_transform_node_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 GType _clutter_dummy_node_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 
@@ -110,9 +109,6 @@ void                    _clutter_paint_operation_paint_primitive        (const C
 void                    _clutter_paint_node_init_types                  (void);
 gpointer                _clutter_paint_node_create                      (GType gtype);
 
-ClutterPaintNode *      _clutter_root_node_new                          (CoglFramebuffer             *framebuffer,
-                                                                         const ClutterColor          *clear_color,
-                                                                         CoglBufferBit                clear_flags);
 ClutterPaintNode *      _clutter_transform_node_new                     (const CoglMatrix            *matrix);
 ClutterPaintNode *      _clutter_dummy_node_new                         (ClutterActor                *actor);
 
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.c
index 638ddb4a7..74e544b51 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.c
@@ -83,16 +83,13 @@ _clutter_paint_node_init_types (void)
 }
 
 /*
- * Root node, private
+ * Root node
  *
  * any frame can only have a since RootNode instance for each
  * top-level actor.
  */
 
-#define clutter_root_node_get_type      _clutter_root_node_get_type
-
-typedef struct _ClutterRootNode         ClutterRootNode;
-typedef struct _ClutterPaintNodeClass   ClutterRootNodeClass;
+#define clutter_root_node_get_type      clutter_root_node_get_type
 
 struct _ClutterRootNode
 {
@@ -158,13 +155,13 @@ clutter_root_node_init (ClutterRootNode *self)
 }
 
 ClutterPaintNode *
-_clutter_root_node_new (CoglFramebuffer    *framebuffer,
-                        const ClutterColor *clear_color,
-                        CoglBufferBit       clear_flags)
+clutter_root_node_new (CoglFramebuffer    *framebuffer,
+                       const ClutterColor *clear_color,
+                       CoglBufferBit       clear_flags)
 {
   ClutterRootNode *res;
 
-  res = _clutter_paint_node_create (_clutter_root_node_get_type ());
+  res = _clutter_paint_node_create (CLUTTER_TYPE_ROOT_NODE);
 
   cogl_color_init_from_4ub (&res->clear_color,
                             clear_color->red,
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.h
index 381c7f8a7..ecaae60ba 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.h
@@ -143,6 +143,26 @@ CLUTTER_EXPORT
 ClutterPaintNode *      clutter_text_node_new           (PangoLayout           *layout,
                                                          const ClutterColor    *color);
 
+#define CLUTTER_TYPE_ROOT_NODE                  (clutter_root_node_get_type ())
+#define CLUTTER_ROOT_NODE(obj)                  (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_CAST ((obj), CLUTTER_TYPE_ROOT_NODE, ClutterRootNode))
+#define CLUTTER_IS_ROOT_NODE(obj)               (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_TYPE ((obj), CLUTTER_TYPE_ROOT_NODE))
+
+/**
+ * ClutterRootNode:
+ *
+ * The #ClutterRootNode structure is an opaque
+ * type whose members cannot be directly accessed.
+ */
+typedef struct _ClutterRootNode                 ClutterRootNode;
+typedef struct _ClutterPaintNodeClass           ClutterRootNodeClass;
+
+CLUTTER_EXPORT
+GType clutter_root_node_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
+
+CLUTTER_EXPORT
+ClutterPaintNode *      clutter_root_node_new           (CoglFramebuffer       *framebuffer,
+                                                         const ClutterColor    *clear_color,
+                                                         CoglBufferBit          clear_flags);
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __CLUTTER_PAINT_NODES_H__ */