diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc b/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
index c1de612c9f..6ad6d9bb3c 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
@@ -264,6 +264,22 @@ ARDOUR_UI_UTILS::get_font_for_style (string widgetname)
 	return Pango::FontDescription (pfd); /* make a copy */
 }
 
+Gdk::Color
+ARDOUR_UI_UTILS::gdk_color_from_rgb (uint32_t rgb)
+{
+	Gdk::Color c;
+	set_color_from_rgb (c, rgb);
+	return c;
+}
+
+Gdk::Color
+ARDOUR_UI_UTILS::gdk_color_from_rgba (uint32_t rgba)
+{
+	Gdk::Color c;
+	set_color_from_rgb (c, rgba);
+	return c;
+}
+
 void
 ARDOUR_UI_UTILS::set_color_from_rgb (Gdk::Color& c, uint32_t rgb)
 {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/utils.h b/gtk2_ardour/utils.h
index bdc05643a5..51b9ca22c3 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/utils.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/utils.h
@@ -62,9 +62,13 @@ Pango::FontDescription get_font_for_style (std::string widgetname);
 
 void decorate (Gtk::Window& w, Gdk::WMDecoration d);
 
+Gdk::Color gdk_color_from_rgb (uint32_t);
+Gdk::Color gdk_color_from_rgba (uint32_t);
+uint32_t gdk_color_to_rgba (Gdk::Color const&);
+
 void set_color_from_rgb (Gdk::Color&, uint32_t);
 void set_color_from_rgba (Gdk::Color&, uint32_t);
-uint32_t gdk_color_to_rgba (Gdk::Color const&);
+
 uint32_t contrasting_text_color (uint32_t c);
 
 bool relay_key_press (GdkEventKey* ev, Gtk::Window* win);