diff --git a/Xext/shm.c b/Xext/shm.c
index e608a622e..8f6f55828 100644
--- a/Xext/shm.c
+++ b/Xext/shm.c
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ int (*SProcShmVector[ShmNumberRequests])(ClientPtr) = {
     SProcShmCreatePixmap
 };
 
-static unsigned char ShmReqCode;
+_X_EXPORT unsigned char ShmReqCode;
 _X_EXPORT int ShmCompletionCode;
 _X_EXPORT int BadShmSegCode;
 _X_EXPORT RESTYPE ShmSegType;
diff --git a/Xext/shmint.h b/Xext/shmint.h
index 0960b0c40..4b21c8b9d 100644
--- a/Xext/shmint.h
+++ b/Xext/shmint.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ typedef struct _ShmDesc {
     unsigned long size;
 } ShmDescRec, *ShmDescPtr;
 
+extern unsigned char ShmReqCode;
 extern int ShmCompletionCode;
 extern int BadShmSegCode;
 extern RESTYPE ShmSegType;