diff --git a/python/genericio.py b/python/genericio.py
index 328473911a6faaf315b36a9ccd209de257d952bb..82b8a4ea39725a820127dd697596a4a51fac2f8d 100644
--- a/python/genericio.py
+++ b/python/genericio.py
@@ -133,3 +133,7 @@ def gio_inspect(file_name):
         file_name=bytes(file_name,'ascii')
     libpygio.inspect_gio(file_name)
 
+read = gio_read
+has_variable = gio_has_variable
+inspect = gio_inspect
+