diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index b9e0da57d84b..5dffcd132d15 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ static void dso__set_sorted_by_name(struct dso *self, enum map_type type)
 	self->sorted_by_name |= (1 << type);
 }
 
-static bool symbol_type__is_a(char symbol_type, enum map_type map_type)
+bool symbol_type__is_a(char symbol_type, enum map_type map_type)
 {
 	switch (map_type) {
 	case MAP__FUNCTION:
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.h b/tools/perf/util/symbol.h
index 21313e87c37b..b2b5330a82a0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.h
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@ int kallsyms__parse(void *arg, int (*process_symbol)(void *arg, const char *name
 						     char type, u64 start));
 
 int symbol__init(void);
+bool symbol_type__is_a(char symbol_type, enum map_type map_type);
+
 int perf_session__create_kernel_maps(struct perf_session *self);
 
 extern struct list_head dsos__user, dsos__kernel;