diff --git a/src/backends/meta-cursor.c b/src/backends/meta-cursor.c
index 8e6dbb464..1558ed5d8 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-cursor.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-cursor.c
@@ -119,18 +119,11 @@ translate_meta_cursor (MetaCursor cursor)
   g_assert_not_reached ();
 }
 
-static Cursor
-load_cursor_on_server (MetaDisplay *display,
-                       MetaCursor   cursor)
-{
-  return XcursorLibraryLoadCursor (display->xdisplay, translate_meta_cursor (cursor));
-}
-
 Cursor
-meta_display_create_x_cursor (MetaDisplay *display,
-                              MetaCursor cursor)
+meta_cursor_create_x_cursor (Display    *xdisplay,
+                             MetaCursor  cursor)
 {
-  return load_cursor_on_server (display, cursor);
+  return XcursorLibraryLoadCursor (xdisplay, translate_meta_cursor (cursor));
 }
 
 static XcursorImage *
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-cursor.h b/src/backends/meta-cursor.h
index c478d1d28..483115eb4 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-cursor.h
+++ b/src/backends/meta-cursor.h
@@ -36,4 +36,7 @@ MetaCursorReference * meta_cursor_reference_from_buffer (struct wl_resource *buf
                                                          int                 hot_x,
                                                          int                 hot_y);
 
+Cursor meta_cursor_create_x_cursor (Display    *xdisplay,
+                                    MetaCursor  cursor);
+
 #endif /* META_CURSOR_H */
diff --git a/src/core/display.c b/src/core/display.c
index e3d71fb6c..543815a99 100644
--- a/src/core/display.c
+++ b/src/core/display.c
@@ -3281,3 +3281,10 @@ meta_display_clear_mouse_mode (MetaDisplay *display)
 {
   display->mouse_mode = FALSE;
 }
+
+Cursor
+meta_display_create_x_cursor (MetaDisplay *display,
+                              MetaCursor   cursor)
+{
+  return meta_cursor_create_x_cursor (display->xdisplay, cursor);
+}