diff --git a/lib/ChangeLog b/lib/ChangeLog
index 430e6aa..1fa8eb5 100644
--- a/lib/ChangeLog
+++ b/lib/ChangeLog
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 	  terminal_no_monitor, in the more normal negating format,
 	  to be kind to my fingers.
 	  (vty_init) install new ALIAS.
+	* zclient.{c,h}: (zclient_create_header) export this, seems others
+	  could use it (in lieu of more complete zserv helpers).
 
 2006-01-16 Paul Jakma <paul.jakma@sun.com>
 
diff --git a/lib/zclient.c b/lib/zclient.c
index ccd8bfc..a253af6 100644
--- a/lib/zclient.c
+++ b/lib/zclient.c
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@
   return 0;
 }
 
-static void
+void
 zclient_create_header (struct stream *s, uint16_t command)
 {
   /* length placeholder, caller can update */
diff --git a/lib/zclient.h b/lib/zclient.h
index bd33295..69ada14 100644
--- a/lib/zclient.h
+++ b/lib/zclient.h
@@ -145,6 +145,9 @@
    Returns 0 for success or -1 on an I/O error. */
 extern int zclient_send_message(struct zclient *);
 
+/* create header for command, length to be filled in by user later */
+extern void zclient_create_header (struct stream *, uint16_t);
+
 extern struct interface *zebra_interface_add_read (struct stream *);
 extern struct interface *zebra_interface_state_read (struct stream *s);
 extern struct connected *zebra_interface_address_read (int, struct stream *);