diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal_memory.c b/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal_memory.c
index 3614da8db8..65c96b05ec 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal_memory.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal_memory.c
@@ -192,3 +192,9 @@ rte_eal_hugepage_attach(void)
 		close(fd_hugepage);
 	return -1;
 }
+
+int
+rte_eal_using_phys_addrs(void)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_private.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_private.h
index 9340b6ebd8..80fea24c3d 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_private.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_private.h
@@ -344,17 +344,6 @@ int rte_eal_hugepage_init(void);
  */
 int rte_eal_hugepage_attach(void);
 
-/**
- * Returns true if the system is able to obtain
- * physical addresses. Return false if using DMA
- * addresses through an IOMMU.
- *
- * Drivers based on uio will not load unless physical
- * addresses are obtainable. It is only possible to get
- * physical addresses when running as a privileged user.
- */
-bool rte_eal_using_phys_addrs(void);
-
 /**
  * Find a bus capable of identifying a device.
  *
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_memory.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_memory.h
index c545963c86..271d2bb65e 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_memory.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_memory.h
@@ -187,6 +187,17 @@ unsigned rte_memory_get_nchannel(void);
  */
 unsigned rte_memory_get_nrank(void);
 
+/**
+ * Drivers based on uio will not load unless physical
+ * addresses are obtainable. It is only possible to get
+ * physical addresses when running as a privileged user.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   1 if the system is able to obtain physical addresses.
+ *   0 if using DMA addresses through an IOMMU.
+ */
+int rte_eal_using_phys_addrs(void);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_memory.c b/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_memory.c
index 187d3389ec..ddf88c54e9 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_memory.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_memory.c
@@ -1494,7 +1494,7 @@ rte_eal_hugepage_attach(void)
 	return -1;
 }
 
-bool
+int
 rte_eal_using_phys_addrs(void)
 {
 	return phys_addrs_available;
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map b/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
index 8eb53abdfa..bcc594de11 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@ DPDK_17.11 {
 	rte_bus_get_iommu_class;
 	rte_eal_iova_mode;
 	rte_eal_mbuf_default_mempool_ops;
+	rte_eal_using_phys_addrs;
 	rte_lcore_has_role;
 	rte_memcpy_ptr;
 	rte_pci_get_iommu_class;