diff --git a/src/core/devices-xi2.c b/src/core/devices-xi2.c
index 00c8ffc84..f50d205e7 100644
--- a/src/core/devices-xi2.c
+++ b/src/core/devices-xi2.c
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ meta_device_xi2_common_allow_events (MetaDevice *device,
   XIAllowEvents (display->xdisplay, device_id, mode, time);
 }
 
-static guchar *
-translate_event_mask (guint  evmask,
-                      gint  *len)
+guchar *
+meta_device_xi2_translate_event_mask (guint  evmask,
+                                      gint  *len)
 {
   guchar *mask;
 
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ meta_device_xi2_common_grab (MetaDevice *device,
   xcursor = meta_display_create_x_cursor (display, cursor);
 
   mask.deviceid = device_id;
-  mask.mask = translate_event_mask (evmask, &mask.mask_len);
+  mask.mask = meta_device_xi2_translate_event_mask (evmask, &mask.mask_len);
 
   retval = XIGrabDevice (display->xdisplay,
                          device_id, xwindow,
diff --git a/src/core/devices-xi2.h b/src/core/devices-xi2.h
index bc9fbdca7..25f0f988b 100644
--- a/src/core/devices-xi2.h
+++ b/src/core/devices-xi2.h
@@ -84,4 +84,9 @@ GType       meta_device_keyboard_xi2_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 MetaDevice *meta_device_keyboard_xi2_new      (MetaDisplay *display,
                                                gint         device_id);
 
+/* Helper function for translating event masks */
+guchar * meta_device_xi2_translate_event_mask (guint        evmask,
+                                               gint        *len);
+
+
 #endif /* META_DEVICES_XI2_H */