diff --git a/include/proto/trace.h b/include/proto/trace.h
index 24d2601..6767952 100644
--- a/include/proto/trace.h
+++ b/include/proto/trace.h
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@
 extern struct list trace_sources;
 extern THREAD_LOCAL struct buffer trace_buf;
 
+void __trace(uint64_t mask, struct trace_source *src, const struct ist msg);
+
 /* return a single char to describe a trace state */
 static inline char trace_state_char(enum trace_state st)
 {
@@ -63,6 +65,13 @@
 	LIST_ADDQ(&trace_sources, &source->source_link);
 }
 
+/* sends a trace for the given source */
+static inline void trace(uint64_t mask, struct trace_source *src, const struct ist msg)
+{
+	if (unlikely(src->state != TRACE_STATE_STOPPED))
+		__trace(mask, src, msg);
+}
+
 #endif /* _PROTO_TRACE_H */
 
 /*