diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index e15b421b6f..f442f28189 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -1170,6 +1170,9 @@ extern int has_pack_index(const unsigned char *sha1);
 
 extern void assert_sha1_type(const unsigned char *sha1, enum object_type expect);
 
+/* Helper to check and "touch" a file */
+extern int check_and_freshen_file(const char *fn, int freshen);
+
 extern const signed char hexval_table[256];
 static inline unsigned int hexval(unsigned char c)
 {
diff --git a/sha1_file.c b/sha1_file.c
index 1173071859..f5303d955a 100644
--- a/sha1_file.c
+++ b/sha1_file.c
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ static int freshen_file(const char *fn)
  * either does not exist on disk, or has a stale mtime and may be subject to
  * pruning).
  */
-static int check_and_freshen_file(const char *fn, int freshen)
+int check_and_freshen_file(const char *fn, int freshen)
 {
 	if (access(fn, F_OK))
 		return 0;