diff --git a/urjtag/ChangeLog b/urjtag/ChangeLog
index fb1cffbd..3f46279b 100644
--- a/urjtag/ChangeLog
+++ b/urjtag/ChangeLog
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@
 
   * src/cmd/cmd_idcode.c: update usage to reflect reality
 
+  * include/urjtag/tap_register.h, src/tap/detect.c, src/tap/register.c:
+    convert the local bits_to_uint64() to a proper urj_tap_register_get_value()
+    so everyone can use it
+
 2009-05-19  Arnim Laeuger  <arniml>
 
   * data/Makefile.am, data/broadcom/bcm6348/bcm6348,
diff --git a/urjtag/include/urjtag/tap_register.h b/urjtag/include/urjtag/tap_register.h
index 3027cf51..aa0bb0af 100644
--- a/urjtag/include/urjtag/tap_register.h
+++ b/urjtag/include/urjtag/tap_register.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #define URJ_TAP_REGISTER_H
 
 #include "types.h"
+#include <stdint.h>
 
 struct urj_tap_register
 {
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ urj_tap_register_t *urj_tap_register_duplicate (const urj_tap_register_t *tr);
 void urj_tap_register_free (urj_tap_register_t *tr);
 urj_tap_register_t *urj_tap_register_fill (urj_tap_register_t *tr, int val);
 const char *urj_tap_register_get_string (const urj_tap_register_t *tr);
+uint64_t urj_tap_register_get_value (const urj_tap_register_t *tr);
 /** @return 0 or 1 on success; -1 on error */
 int urj_tap_register_all_bits_same_value (const urj_tap_register_t *tr);
 urj_tap_register_t *urj_tap_register_init (urj_tap_register_t *tr,
diff --git a/urjtag/src/tap/detect.c b/urjtag/src/tap/detect.c
index 3f990b7f..c23a0bd1 100644
--- a/urjtag/src/tap/detect.c
+++ b/urjtag/src/tap/detect.c
@@ -171,23 +171,6 @@ find_record (char *filename, urj_tap_register_t *key, struct id_record *idr)
     return r;
 }
 
-static uint64_t
-bits_to_uint64 (urj_tap_register_t *t)
-{
-    int i;
-    uint64_t l, b;
-
-    l = 0;
-    b = 1;
-    for (i = 0; i < t->len; i++)
-    {
-        if (t->data[i] & 1)
-            l |= b;
-        b <<= 1;
-    }
-    return l;
-}
-
 int
 urj_tap_detect_parts (urj_chain_t *chain, const char *db_path)
 {
@@ -279,7 +262,7 @@ urj_tap_detect_parts (urj_chain_t *chain, const char *db_path)
             did = id;
 
             urj_log (URJ_LOG_LEVEL_NORMAL, _("Device Id: %s (0x%016" PRIX64 ")\n"),
-                     urj_tap_register_get_string (did), bits_to_uint64 (did));
+                     urj_tap_register_get_string (did), urj_tap_register_get_value (did));
         } else
             urj_log (URJ_LOG_LEVEL_NORMAL, _("Device Id: unknown as bit 0 was not a 1\n"));
 
diff --git a/urjtag/src/tap/register.c b/urjtag/src/tap/register.c
index a7a40b1a..269bbee9 100644
--- a/urjtag/src/tap/register.c
+++ b/urjtag/src/tap/register.c
@@ -122,6 +122,27 @@ urj_tap_register_get_string (const urj_tap_register_t *tr)
     return tr->string;
 }
 
+uint64_t
+urj_tap_register_get_value (const urj_tap_register_t *tr)
+{
+    int i;
+    uint64_t l, b;
+
+    if (!tr)
+        return 0;
+
+    l = 0;
+    b = 1;
+    for (i = 0; i < tr->len; ++i)
+    {
+        if (tr->data[i] & 1)
+            l |= b;
+        b <<= 1;
+    }
+
+    return l;
+}
+
 int
 urj_tap_register_all_bits_same_value (const urj_tap_register_t *tr)
 {