diff --git a/lib/include/maca.h b/lib/include/maca.h
index a63caa6ed..65ee3605d 100644
--- a/lib/include/maca.h
+++ b/lib/include/maca.h
@@ -128,6 +128,8 @@ volatile packet_t* get_free_packet(void);
 void free_packet(volatile packet_t *p);
 void free_all_packets(void);
 
+extern volatile packet_t *rx_head;
+
 /* set_fcs_mode(NO_FCS) to disable checksum filtering */
 extern volatile uint8_t fcs_mode;
 #define set_fcs_mode(x) fcs_mode = (x)
diff --git a/lib/maca.c b/lib/maca.c
index 090f4e6c7..918d717c3 100644
--- a/lib/maca.c
+++ b/lib/maca.c
@@ -29,7 +29,12 @@
 #define reg(x) (*(volatile uint32_t *)(x))
 
 static volatile packet_t packet_pool[NUM_PACKETS];
-static volatile packet_t *free_head, *rx_head, *rx_end, *tx_head, *tx_end, *dma_tx, *dma_rx = 0;
+static volatile packet_t *free_head, *rx_end, *tx_head, *tx_end, *dma_tx, *dma_rx = 0;
+
+/* rx_head is visible to the outside */
+/* so you can peek at it and see if there is data */
+/* waiting for you */
+volatile packet_t *rx_head;
 
 /* used for ack recpetion if the packet_pool goes empty */
 /* doesn't go back into the pool when freed */