diff --git a/iio-private.h b/iio-private.h
index 6d7c4e01c..fff93470f 100644
--- a/iio-private.h
+++ b/iio-private.h
@@ -161,8 +161,6 @@ struct iio_channels_mask {
 	uint32_t mask[];
 };
 
-struct iio_channels_mask *iio_create_channels_mask(unsigned int nb_channels);
-
 int iio_channels_mask_copy(struct iio_channels_mask *dst,
 			   const struct iio_channels_mask *src);
 
diff --git a/include/iio/iio.h b/include/iio/iio.h
index e95ac404b..7ef6f0fd6 100644
--- a/include/iio/iio.h
+++ b/include/iio/iio.h
@@ -1407,6 +1407,20 @@ struct iio_data_format {
 };
 
 
+/** @brief Create a new empty channels mask
+ * @param nb_channels The number of channels in the mask
+ * @return On success, a pointer to an iio_channels_mask structure
+ * @return On error, NULL is returned */
+__api struct iio_channels_mask *
+iio_create_channels_mask(unsigned int nb_channels);
+
+
+/** @brief Destroy a channels mask
+ * @param mask A pointer to an iio_channels_mask structure */
+__api void
+iio_channels_mask_destroy(struct iio_channels_mask *mask);
+
+
 /** @brief Get a mask of the currently enabled channels
  * @param dev A pointer to an iio_device structure
  * @return A pointer to an iio_channels_mask structure */
diff --git a/mask.c b/mask.c
index 39f9c96c6..c7be62d92 100644
--- a/mask.c
+++ b/mask.c
@@ -36,3 +36,8 @@ int iio_channels_mask_copy(struct iio_channels_mask *dst,
 
 	return 0;
 }
+
+void iio_channels_mask_destroy(struct iio_channels_mask *mask)
+{
+	free(mask);
+}