diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/debug.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/debug.h
index dc2ee6442f..7ae56c84d9 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/debug.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/debug.h
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ namespace PBD {
 		LIBARDOUR_API extern DebugBits BackendAudio;
 		LIBARDOUR_API extern DebugBits BackendTiming;
 		LIBARDOUR_API extern DebugBits BackendThreads;
+		LIBARDOUR_API extern DebugBits BackendPorts;
 
 	}
 }
diff --git a/libs/ardour/debug.cc b/libs/ardour/debug.cc
index 9d6ceb1a9d..72a7ef0f4f 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/debug.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/debug.cc
@@ -71,3 +71,4 @@ PBD::DebugBits PBD::DEBUG::BackendMIDI = PBD::new_debug_bit ("backendmidi");
 PBD::DebugBits PBD::DEBUG::BackendAudio = PBD::new_debug_bit ("backendaudio");
 PBD::DebugBits PBD::DEBUG::BackendTiming = PBD::new_debug_bit ("backendtiming");
 PBD::DebugBits PBD::DEBUG::BackendThreads = PBD::new_debug_bit ("backendthreads");
+PBD::DebugBits PBD::DEBUG::BackendPorts = PBD::new_debug_bit ("backendports");