diff --git a/Modules/_cursesmodule.c b/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
index 1f6a426..12b496f 100644
--- a/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
@@ -1619,11 +1619,20 @@
 NoArgTrueFalseFunction(has_ic)
 NoArgTrueFalseFunction(has_il)
 NoArgTrueFalseFunction(isendwin)
-NoArgNoReturnVoidFunction(filter)
 NoArgNoReturnVoidFunction(flushinp)
 NoArgNoReturnVoidFunction(noqiflush)
 
 static PyObject *
+PyCurses_filter(PyObject *self)
+{
+  /* not checking for PyCursesInitialised here since filter() must
+     be called before initscr() */
+  filter();
+  Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+  return Py_None;
+}
+
+static PyObject *
 PyCurses_Color_Content(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
   short color,r,g,b;