diff --git a/src/Desc.cc b/src/Desc.cc
index dc022528bf..17ac87d6a8 100644
--- a/src/Desc.cc
+++ b/src/Desc.cc
@@ -432,4 +432,15 @@ std::string obj_desc(const Obj* o)
 	return std::string(d.Description());
 	}
 
+std::string obj_desc_short(const Obj* o)
+	{
+	static ODesc d;
+
+	d.SetShort(true);
+	d.Clear();
+	o->Describe(&d);
+
+	return std::string(d.Description());
+	}
+
 	} // namespace zeek
diff --git a/src/Desc.h b/src/Desc.h
index 9cc86fef20..d33b9bf03f 100644
--- a/src/Desc.h
+++ b/src/Desc.h
@@ -230,6 +230,9 @@ protected:
 // IntrusivePtr because the latter is harder to deal with when making
 // calls from a debugger like lldb, which is the main use of this function.
 class Obj;
-extern std::string obj_desc(const Obj* o);
+std::string obj_desc(const Obj* o);
+
+// Same as obj_desc(), but ensure it is short and don't include location info.
+std::string obj_desc_short(const Obj* o);
 
 	} // namespace zeek