diff --git a/include/utils/RefBase.h b/include/utils/RefBase.h
index c24c0db..f8d96cf 100644
--- a/include/utils/RefBase.h
+++ b/include/utils/RefBase.h
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 #define ANDROID_REF_BASE_H
 
 #include <cutils/atomic.h>
-#include <utils/TextOutput.h>
 
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
@@ -27,6 +26,10 @@
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 namespace android {
 
+class TextOutput;
+TextOutput& printStrongPointer(TextOutput& to, const void* val);
+TextOutput& printWeakPointer(TextOutput& to, const void* val);
+
 template<typename T> class wp;
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -427,8 +430,7 @@
 template <typename T>
 inline TextOutput& operator<<(TextOutput& to, const sp<T>& val)
 {
-    to << "sp<>(" << val.get() << ")";
-    return to;
+   return printStrongPointer(to, val.get());
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -585,8 +587,7 @@
 template <typename T>
 inline TextOutput& operator<<(TextOutput& to, const wp<T>& val)
 {
-    to << "wp<>(" << val.unsafe_get() << ")";
-    return to;
+    return printWeakPointer(to, val.unsafe_get());
 }
 
 }; // namespace android
diff --git a/libs/utils/RefBase.cpp b/libs/utils/RefBase.cpp
index 0bd1af4..f934eec 100644
--- a/libs/utils/RefBase.cpp
+++ b/libs/utils/RefBase.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include <utils/KeyedVector.h>
 #include <utils/Log.h>
 #include <utils/threads.h>
+#include <utils/TextOutput.h>
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
@@ -530,5 +531,20 @@
 void RefBase::onLastWeakRef(const void* /*id*/)
 {
 }
-        
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+TextOutput& printStrongPointer(TextOutput& to, const void* val)
+{
+    to << "sp<>(" << val << ")";
+    return to;
+}
+
+TextOutput& printWeakPointer(TextOutput& to, const void* val)
+{
+    to << "wp<>(" << val << ")";
+    return to;
+}
+
+
 }; // namespace android