diff --git a/source/client/client.c b/source/client/client.c
index 8c939fc3ec6..149b5303694 100644
--- a/source/client/client.c
+++ b/source/client/client.c
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static char *desthost;
 static char *calling_name;
 static bool grepable = false;
 static char *cmdstr = NULL;
-static const char *cmd_ptr = NULL;
+const char *cmd_ptr = NULL;
 
 static int io_bufsize = 524288;
 
diff --git a/source/client/clitar.c b/source/client/clitar.c
index f53c9b4035f..084f87e3996 100644
--- a/source/client/clitar.c
+++ b/source/client/clitar.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ char tar_type='\0';
 static char **cliplist=NULL;
 static int clipn=0;
 static bool must_free_cliplist = False;
-static const char *cmd_ptr = NULL;
+extern const char *cmd_ptr;
 
 extern bool lowercase;
 extern uint16 cnum;