diff --git a/gui_status.c b/gui_status.c
index 05d92e0..222a144 100644
--- a/gui_status.c
+++ b/gui_status.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "error.h"
 #include "unparse.h"
 #include "obj.h"
+#include "layer.h"
 #include "gui_util.h"
 #include "gui_style.h"
 #include "gui_canvas.h"
@@ -195,28 +196,7 @@ static GtkWidget *pad_type;
 
 static void show_pad_type(void)
 {
-	const char *s;
-
-	switch (*curr_pad_type) {
-	case pt_normal:
-		s = "normal";
-		break;
-	case pt_bare:
-		s = "bare";
-		break;
-	case pt_trace:
-		s = "trace";
-		break;
-	case pt_paste:
-		s = "paste";
-		break;
-	case pt_mask:
-		s = "mask";
-		break;
-	default:
-		abort();
-	}
-	gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(pad_type), s);
+	gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(pad_type), pad_type_name(*curr_pad_type));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/layer.c b/layer.c
index b6a533c..b62533c 100644
--- a/layer.c
+++ b/layer.c
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 /*
  * layer.c - PCB layers on a pad
  *
- * Written 2009-2011 by Werner Almesberger
- * Copyright 2009-2011 by Werner Almesberger
+ * Written 2009-2012 by Werner Almesberger
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by Werner Almesberger
  *
  * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
  * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -86,6 +86,25 @@ enum pad_type layers_to_pad_type(layer_type layers)
 }
 
 
+const char *pad_type_name(enum pad_type type)
+{
+	switch (type) {
+	case pt_normal:
+		return "normal";
+	case pt_bare:
+		return "bare";
+	case pt_trace:
+		return "trace";
+	case pt_paste:
+		return "paste";
+	case pt_mask:
+		return "mask";
+	default:
+		abort();
+	}
+}
+
+
 /* ----- layers in mechanical holes ---------------------------------------- */
 
 
diff --git a/layer.h b/layer.h
index 873e99c..b52a362 100644
--- a/layer.h
+++ b/layer.h
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 /*
  * layer.h - PCB layers on a pad
  *
- * Written 2009-2011 by Werner Almesberger
- * Copyright 2009-2011 by Werner Almesberger
+ * Written 2009-2012 by Werner Almesberger
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by Werner Almesberger
  *
  * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
  * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ enum pad_type {
 
 layer_type pad_type_to_layers(enum pad_type type);
 enum pad_type layers_to_pad_type(layer_type layers);
+const char *pad_type_name(enum pad_type type);
 
 layer_type mech_hole_layers(void);