diff --git a/src/netbeans.c b/src/netbeans.c
index f080377a8f..2e7890d95e 100644
--- a/src/netbeans.c
+++ b/src/netbeans.c
@@ -427,6 +427,14 @@ netbeans_parse_messages(void)
     }
 }
 
+/* TODO: remove */
+    void
+netbeans_read()
+{
+    if (nb_channel_idx >= 0)
+	channel_read(nb_channel_idx);
+}
+
 /*
  * Handle one NUL terminated command.
  *
diff --git a/src/proto/netbeans.pro b/src/proto/netbeans.pro
index 2df71a11af..b01bf02ed1 100644
--- a/src/proto/netbeans.pro
+++ b/src/proto/netbeans.pro
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /* netbeans.c */
 void netbeans_parse_messages(void);
+void netbeans_read(void);
 int isNetbeansBuffer(buf_T *bufp);
 int isNetbeansModified(buf_T *bufp);
 void netbeans_end(void);