diff --git a/client/X11/xf_utils.c b/client/X11/xf_utils.c
index 1fe52a163..e9e28c904 100644
--- a/client/X11/xf_utils.c
+++ b/client/X11/xf_utils.c
@@ -226,3 +226,13 @@ fail:
 		pclose(keyScript);
 	return rc;
 }
+
+const char* x11_error_to_string(xfContext* xfc, int error, char* buffer, size_t size)
+{
+	WINPR_ASSERT(xfc);
+	WINPR_ASSERT(size <= INT32_MAX);
+	const int rc = XGetErrorText(xfc->display, error, buffer, (int)size);
+	if (rc)
+		WLog_WARN(TAG, "XGetErrorText returned %d", rc);
+	return buffer;
+}
diff --git a/client/X11/xf_utils.h b/client/X11/xf_utils.h
index 5da645238..81b020eff 100644
--- a/client/X11/xf_utils.h
+++ b/client/X11/xf_utils.h
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include <X11/Xlib.h>
 #include "xfreerdp.h"
 
+const char* x11_error_to_string(xfContext* xfc, int error, char* buffer, size_t size);
+
 #define X_GET_ATOM_VAR_NAME(x) #x
 #define Safe_XGetAtomName(log, display, atom) \
 	Safe_XGetAtomNameEx((log), (display), (atom), X_GET_ATOM_VAR_NAME(atom))