diff --git a/sparse-index.c b/sparse-index.c
index 8636af72de..ffbab7d35f 100644
--- a/sparse-index.c
+++ b/sparse-index.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ static int index_has_unmerged_entries(struct index_state *istate)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int is_sparse_index_allowed(struct index_state *istate, int flags)
+int is_sparse_index_allowed(struct index_state *istate, int flags)
 {
 	if (!core_apply_sparse_checkout || !core_sparse_checkout_cone)
 		return 0;
diff --git a/sparse-index.h b/sparse-index.h
index 633d4fb7e3..f57c65d972 100644
--- a/sparse-index.h
+++ b/sparse-index.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 struct index_state;
 #define SPARSE_INDEX_MEMORY_ONLY (1 << 0)
+int is_sparse_index_allowed(struct index_state *istate, int flags);
 int convert_to_sparse(struct index_state *istate, int flags);
 void ensure_correct_sparsity(struct index_state *istate);
 void clear_skip_worktree_from_present_files(struct index_state *istate);