diff --git a/include/common/spawn.h b/include/common/spawn.h
index 43123269..3f766eff 100644
--- a/include/common/spawn.h
+++ b/include/common/spawn.h
@@ -2,8 +2,15 @@
 #ifndef LABWC_SPAWN_H
 #define LABWC_SPAWN_H
 
+#include <stdbool.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
+/**
+ * set_cloexec - set file descriptor to close on exit
+ * @fd: file descriptor
+ */
+bool set_cloexec(int fd);
+
 /**
  * spawn_primary_client - execute asynchronously
  * @command: command to be executed
diff --git a/src/common/spawn.c b/src/common/spawn.c
index 898c4800..9468b2b9 100644
--- a/src/common/spawn.c
+++ b/src/common/spawn.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ reset_signals_and_limits(void)
 	signal(SIGPIPE, SIG_DFL);
 }
 
-static bool
+bool
 set_cloexec(int fd)
 {
 	int flags = fcntl(fd, F_GETFD);