diff --git a/include/QF/progs.h b/include/QF/progs.h
index abc92f7f5..8a78926bf 100644
--- a/include/QF/progs.h
+++ b/include/QF/progs.h
@@ -1254,6 +1254,13 @@ int PR_RelocateBuiltins (progs_t *pr);
 */
 void PR_Strings_Init (progs_t *pr);
 
+/**	Initialize the string tables using the strings supplied by the progs.
+	Called automatically during progs load.
+	\param pr		pointer to ::progs_t VM struct
+	\return			true for success, false for failure
+*/
+int PR_LoadStrings (progs_t *pr);
+
 /** Check the validity of a string index.
 	\param pr		pointer to ::progs_t VM struct
 	\param num		string index to be validated
diff --git a/libs/gamecode/pr_strings.c b/libs/gamecode/pr_strings.c
index 00a7d67df..89d5ee60f 100644
--- a/libs/gamecode/pr_strings.c
+++ b/libs/gamecode/pr_strings.c
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ pr_strings_clear (progs_t *pr, void *data)
 	pr->pr_xtstr = 0;
 }
 
-static int
+VISIBLE int
 PR_LoadStrings (progs_t *pr)
 {
 	prstr_resources_t *res = PR_Resources_Find (pr, "Strings");
diff --git a/tools/qfcc/source/qfprogs.c b/tools/qfcc/source/qfprogs.c
index 8a8f2ffc0..787c9068a 100644
--- a/tools/qfcc/source/qfprogs.c
+++ b/tools/qfcc/source/qfprogs.c
@@ -289,6 +289,7 @@ load_progs (const char *name)
 			return 0;
 
 		PR_ResolveGlobals (&pr);
+		PR_LoadStrings (&pr);
 		PR_LoadDebug (&pr);
 	}
 	for (i = 0; i < pr.progs->numfunctions; i++) {