diff --git a/libweston/compositor.c b/libweston/compositor.c
index 4e72f2bbb..dfb676030 100644
--- a/libweston/compositor.c
+++ b/libweston/compositor.c
@@ -983,7 +983,7 @@ weston_surface_debug_string_regenerate(FILE *fp, void *data)
 	}
 
 	fprintf(fp, "role %s, PID %d, surface ID %u, %s",
-		surface->role_name, pid, surface_id, desc);
+		weston_surface_get_role(surface), pid, surface_id, desc);
 
 	if (!weston_surface_is_mapped(surface))
 		fprintf(fp, "\t[surface is not mapped!]\n");