diff --git a/mps/code/mpm.h b/mps/code/mpm.h
index dbdc5baba39..094f3f76d51 100644
--- a/mps/code/mpm.h
+++ b/mps/code/mpm.h
@@ -389,6 +389,7 @@ extern Res traceStartCollectAll(Trace *traceReturn, Arena arena, int why);
 extern Bool TraceStartMessageCheck(TraceStartMessage message);
 extern void TraceStartMessageInit(Arena arena, TraceStartMessage tsMessage);
 extern void traceStartWhyToTextBuffer(char *s, size_t len, int why);
+extern const char *traceStartWhyToString(int why);
 #define TraceStartMessageMessage(traceStartMessage) \
   (&((traceStartMessage)->messageStruct))
 
diff --git a/mps/code/traceanc.c b/mps/code/traceanc.c
index af9965d6f27..ec7daec070a 100644
--- a/mps/code/traceanc.c
+++ b/mps/code/traceanc.c
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ void TraceStartMessageInit(Arena arena, TraceStartMessage tsMessage)
  * why a trace started.
  */
  
-static const char *traceStartWhyToString(int why)
+const char *traceStartWhyToString(int why)
 {
   const char *r;