diff --git a/src/colours.cc b/src/colours.cc
index acd00b59..495c4647 100644
--- a/src/colours.cc
+++ b/src/colours.cc
@@ -189,4 +189,7 @@ long get_x11_color(const char *name)
 
 	return (long) color.pixel;
 }
+
+long get_x11_color(const std::string &colour)
+{ return get_x11_color(colour.c_str()); }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/colours.h b/src/colours.h
index 298e9507..9748122b 100644
--- a/src/colours.h
+++ b/src/colours.h
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 unsigned int adjust_colours(unsigned int);
 unsigned long *do_gradient(int, unsigned long, unsigned long);
 
+long get_x11_color(const std::string &colour);
+// XXX: when everyone uses C++ strings, remove this C version
 long get_x11_color(const char *);
 
 #endif /* _COLOURS_H */