diff --git a/flashrom.c b/flashrom.c
index db15ae5..fc78198 100644
--- a/flashrom.c
+++ b/flashrom.c
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
 ;
 #endif
 
-char *programmer_param = NULL;
+static char *programmer_param = NULL;
 
 /* Supported buses for the current programmer. */
 enum chipbustype buses_supported;
@@ -641,6 +641,11 @@
 	return opt;
 }
 
+char *extract_programmer_param(char *param_name)
+{
+	return extract_param(&programmer_param, param_name, ",");
+}
+
 /* start is an offset to the base address of the flash chip */
 int check_erased_range(struct flashchip *flash, int start, int len)
 {