diff --git a/trace.h b/trace.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6cc4541
--- /dev/null
+++ b/trace.h
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#ifndef TRACE_H
+#define TRACE_H
+
+#include "git-compat-util.h"
+#include "strbuf.h"
+
+__attribute__((format (printf, 1, 2)))
+extern void trace_printf(const char *format, ...);
+__attribute__((format (printf, 2, 3)))
+extern void trace_argv_printf(const char **argv, const char *format, ...);
+extern void trace_repo_setup(const char *prefix);
+extern int trace_want(const char *key);
+__attribute__((format (printf, 2, 3)))
+extern void trace_printf_key(const char *key, const char *fmt, ...);
+extern void trace_strbuf(const char *key, const struct strbuf *buf);
+
+#endif /* TRACE_H */