diff --git a/harbour/include/hbapiitm.h b/harbour/include/hbapiitm.h
index c46e7297cf..f095203844 100644
--- a/harbour/include/hbapiitm.h
+++ b/harbour/include/hbapiitm.h
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ extern int      hb_itemStrCmp   ( PHB_ITEM pFirst, PHB_ITEM pSecond, BOOL bForce
 extern void     hb_itemCopy     ( PHB_ITEM pDest, PHB_ITEM pSource ); /* copies an item to one place to another respecting its containts */
 extern void     hb_itemClear    ( PHB_ITEM pItem );
 extern PHB_ITEM hb_itemUnRef    ( PHB_ITEM pItem ); /* de-references passed variable */
+extern PHB_ITEM hb_itemUnRefOnce( PHB_ITEM pItem ); /* de-references passed variable, one step*/
 extern char *   hb_itemStr      ( PHB_ITEM pNumber, PHB_ITEM pWidth, PHB_ITEM pDec ); /* convert a number to a string */
 extern char *   hb_itemString   ( PHB_ITEM pItem, ULONG * ulLen, BOOL * bFreeReq );  /* Convert any scalar to a string */
 extern PHB_ITEM hb_itemValToStr ( PHB_ITEM pItem ); /* Convert any scalar to a string */