diff --git a/include/wx/cmdline.h b/include/wx/cmdline.h
index 8df967be96..c8f140d720 100644
--- a/include/wx/cmdline.h
+++ b/include/wx/cmdline.h
@@ -192,6 +192,9 @@ public:
     // give the usage message describing all program options
     void Usage() const;
 
+    // return the usage string, call Usage() to directly show it to the user
+    wxString GetUsageString() const;
+
     // get the command line arguments
     // ------------------------------
 
@@ -229,9 +232,6 @@ public:
     static wxArrayString ConvertStringToArgs(const wxString& cmdline);
 
 private:
-    // get usage string
-    wxString GetUsageString() const;
-
     // common part of all ctors
     void Init();
 
diff --git a/interface/cmdline.h b/interface/cmdline.h
index 2cebdf9e3e..a50c66f3c5 100644
--- a/interface/cmdline.h
+++ b/interface/cmdline.h
@@ -430,5 +430,12 @@ public:
         @see SetLogo()
     */
     void Usage() const;
+
+    /**
+        Return the string containing the program usage description.
+
+        Call Usage() to directly show this string to the user.
+     */
+    wxString GetUsageString() const;
 };