diff --git a/src/pack-objects.c b/src/pack-objects.c
index 2a2f36223..4d79ad95b 100644
--- a/src/pack-objects.c
+++ b/src/pack-objects.c
@@ -228,40 +228,6 @@ int git_packbuilder_insert(git_packbuilder *pb, const git_oid *oid,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/*
- * The per-object header is a pretty dense thing, which is
- *  - first byte: low four bits are "size",
- *    then three bits of "type",
- *    with the high bit being "size continues".
- *  - each byte afterwards: low seven bits are size continuation,
- *    with the high bit being "size continues"
- */
-static int gen_pack_object_header(
-		unsigned char *hdr,
-		unsigned long size,
-		git_otype type)
-{
-	unsigned char *hdr_base;
-	unsigned char c;
-
-	assert(type >= GIT_OBJ_COMMIT && type <= GIT_OBJ_REF_DELTA);
-
-	/* TODO: add support for chunked objects; see git.git 6c0d19b1 */
-
-	c = (unsigned char)((type << 4) | (size & 15));
-	size >>= 4;
-	hdr_base = hdr;
-
-	while (size) {
-		*hdr++ = c | 0x80;
-		c = size & 0x7f;
-		size >>= 7;
-	}
-	*hdr++ = c;
-
-	return (int)(hdr - hdr_base);
-}
-
 static int get_delta(void **out, git_odb *odb, git_pobject *po)
 {
 	git_odb_object *src = NULL, *trg = NULL;
@@ -323,7 +289,7 @@ static int write_object(git_buf *buf, git_packbuilder *pb, git_pobject *po)
 	}
 
 	/* Write header */
-	hdr_len = gen_pack_object_header(hdr, size, type);
+	hdr_len = git_packfile__object_header(hdr, size, type);
 
 	if (git_buf_put(buf, (char *)hdr, hdr_len) < 0)
 		goto on_error;
diff --git a/src/pack.c b/src/pack.c
index e7fb9f1ae..5df0f50b9 100644
--- a/src/pack.c
+++ b/src/pack.c
@@ -364,6 +364,38 @@ static unsigned char *pack_window_open(
 	return git_mwindow_open(&p->mwf, w_cursor, offset, 20, left);
  }
 
+/*
+ * The per-object header is a pretty dense thing, which is
+ *  - first byte: low four bits are "size",
+ *    then three bits of "type",
+ *    with the high bit being "size continues".
+ *  - each byte afterwards: low seven bits are size continuation,
+ *    with the high bit being "size continues"
+ */
+int git_packfile__object_header(unsigned char *hdr, unsigned long size, git_otype type)
+{
+	unsigned char *hdr_base;
+	unsigned char c;
+
+	assert(type >= GIT_OBJ_COMMIT && type <= GIT_OBJ_REF_DELTA);
+
+	/* TODO: add support for chunked objects; see git.git 6c0d19b1 */
+
+	c = (unsigned char)((type << 4) | (size & 15));
+	size >>= 4;
+	hdr_base = hdr;
+
+	while (size) {
+		*hdr++ = c | 0x80;
+		c = size & 0x7f;
+		size >>= 7;
+	}
+	*hdr++ = c;
+
+	return (int)(hdr - hdr_base);
+}
+
+
 static int packfile_unpack_header1(
 		unsigned long *usedp,
 		size_t *sizep,
diff --git a/src/pack.h b/src/pack.h
index aeeac9ce1..ddeefea1d 100644
--- a/src/pack.h
+++ b/src/pack.h
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ typedef struct git_packfile_stream {
 	git_mwindow *mw;
 } git_packfile_stream;
 
+int git_packfile__object_header(unsigned char *hdr, unsigned long size, git_otype type);
+
 int git_packfile_unpack_header(
 		size_t *size_p,
 		git_otype *type_p,