diff --git a/drivers/auxdisplay/charlcd.c b/drivers/auxdisplay/charlcd.c
index fc0daf4987d5..154419513186 100644
--- a/drivers/auxdisplay/charlcd.c
+++ b/drivers/auxdisplay/charlcd.c
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ static void long_sleep(int ms)
 }
 
 /* turn the backlight on or off */
-static void charlcd_backlight(struct charlcd *lcd, enum charlcd_onoff on)
+void charlcd_backlight(struct charlcd *lcd, enum charlcd_onoff on)
 {
 	struct charlcd_priv *priv = charlcd_to_priv(lcd);
 
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ static void charlcd_backlight(struct charlcd *lcd, enum charlcd_onoff on)
 		lcd->ops->backlight(lcd, on);
 	mutex_unlock(&priv->bl_tempo_lock);
 }
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(charlcd_backlight);
 
 static void charlcd_bl_off(struct work_struct *work)
 {
diff --git a/drivers/auxdisplay/charlcd.h b/drivers/auxdisplay/charlcd.h
index a6c32c4d1aac..a3210305cae7 100644
--- a/drivers/auxdisplay/charlcd.h
+++ b/drivers/auxdisplay/charlcd.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ struct charlcd_ops {
 	int (*clear_display)(struct charlcd *lcd);
 };
 
+void charlcd_backlight(struct charlcd *lcd, enum charlcd_onoff on);
 struct charlcd *charlcd_alloc(void);
 void charlcd_free(struct charlcd *lcd);