diff --git a/src/perl/ui/Formats.xs b/src/perl/ui/Formats.xs
index 8e34b7b9..fbd0cbf4 100644
--- a/src/perl/ui/Formats.xs
+++ b/src/perl/ui/Formats.xs
@@ -50,6 +50,16 @@ format_real_length(str, len)
 	char *str
 	int len
 
+void
+format_string_expand(str)
+	char *str
+PREINIT:
+	char *ret;
+PPCODE:
+	ret = format_string_expand(str, NULL);
+	XPUSHs(sv_2mortal(new_pv(ret)));
+	g_free(ret);
+
 void
 strip_codes(input)
 	char *input