diff --git a/channels.c b/channels.c
index 65cf2ab..12affdc 100644
--- a/channels.c
+++ b/channels.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "includes.h"
-RCSID("$OpenBSD: channels.c,v 1.134 2001/09/17 21:04:01 markus Exp $");
+RCSID("$OpenBSD: channels.c,v 1.135 2001/10/01 21:38:53 markus Exp $");
 
 #include "ssh.h"
 #include "ssh1.h"
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
 static char *auth_sock_dir = NULL;
 
 /* AF_UNSPEC or AF_INET or AF_INET6 */
-extern int IPv4or6;
+static int IPv4or6 = AF_UNSPEC;
 
 /* helper */
 static void port_open_helper(Channel *c, char *rtype);
@@ -2037,6 +2037,12 @@
 
 /* -- tcp forwarding */
 
+void
+channel_set_af(int af)
+{
+	IPv4or6 = af;
+}
+
 /*
  * Initiate forwarding of connections to local port "port" through the secure
  * channel to host:port from remote side.