diff --git a/gst/gdp/dataprotocol.c b/gst/gdp/dataprotocol.c
index ef35a13b8c..c4e06b35a8 100644
--- a/gst/gdp/dataprotocol.c
+++ b/gst/gdp/dataprotocol.c
@@ -46,8 +46,17 @@ GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY (data_protocol_debug);
 #define POLY       0x1021
 #define CRC_INIT   0xFFFF
 
-static guint16
-gst_dp_crc (const guint8 * buffer, register guint length)
+/**
+ * gst_dp_crc:
+ *
+ * Calculate a CRC for the given buffer over the given number of bytes.
+ * This is only provided for verification purposes; typical GDP users
+ * will not need this function.
+ *
+ * Returns: a two-byte CRC checksum.
+ */
+guint16
+gst_dp_crc (const guint8 * buffer, guint length)
 {
   static gboolean initialized = FALSE;
   static guint16 crc_table[256];
diff --git a/gst/gdp/dataprotocol.h b/gst/gdp/dataprotocol.h
index 0f6024820b..25c09c6f0e 100644
--- a/gst/gdp/dataprotocol.h
+++ b/gst/gdp/dataprotocol.h
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ typedef enum {
 
 void		gst_dp_init			(void);
 
+/* crc checksum */
+guint16         gst_dp_crc                      (const guint8 * buffer,
+                                                 guint length);
+
 /* payload information from header */
 guint32		gst_dp_header_payload_length	(const guint8 * header);
 GstDPPayloadType