diff --git a/tools/qfcc/include/symtab.h b/tools/qfcc/include/symtab.h
index 179259c81..c8c831203 100644
--- a/tools/qfcc/include/symtab.h
+++ b/tools/qfcc/include/symtab.h
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ typedef struct symtab_s {
 	struct defspace_s *space;	///< storage for vars in scope symtabs
 } symtab_t;
 
+const char *symtype_str (sy_type_e type);
+
 /**	Create a new, empty named symbol.
 
 	Only the symbol name field will be filled in. \a name will be copied
diff --git a/tools/qfcc/source/symtab.c b/tools/qfcc/source/symtab.c
index 4c39e03f7..c729a064f 100644
--- a/tools/qfcc/source/symtab.c
+++ b/tools/qfcc/source/symtab.c
@@ -50,6 +50,23 @@
 static symtab_t *free_symtabs;
 static symbol_t *free_symbols;
 
+static const char *sy_type_names[] = {
+	"sy_var",
+	"sy_const",
+	"sy_type",
+	"sy_expr",
+	"sy_func",
+	"sy_class",
+};
+
+const char *
+symtype_str (sy_type_e type)
+{
+	if (type < 0 || type > sy_class)
+		return "<invalid sy_type>";
+	return sy_type_names[type];
+}
+
 symbol_t *
 new_symbol (const char *name)
 {