diff --git a/include/rem_au.h b/include/rem_au.h
index 8174acb93..aa6af8dfb 100644
--- a/include/rem_au.h
+++ b/include/rem_au.h
@@ -19,4 +19,11 @@ enum aufmt {
 size_t      aufmt_sample_size(enum aufmt fmt);
 const char *aufmt_name(enum aufmt fmt);
 
-uint32_t calc_nsamp(uint32_t srate, uint8_t channels, uint16_t ptime);
+uint32_t au_calc_nsamp(uint32_t srate, uint8_t channels, uint16_t ptime);
+
+/* todo: remove backwards wrapper later */
+static inline uint32_t calc_nsamp(uint32_t srate, uint8_t channels,
+				  uint16_t ptime)
+{
+	return au_calc_nsamp(srate, channels, ptime);
+}
diff --git a/rem/au/util.c b/rem/au/util.c
index dddf19ce4..e98f72bfa 100644
--- a/rem/au/util.c
+++ b/rem/au/util.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
  *
  * @return Number of samples
  */
-uint32_t calc_nsamp(uint32_t srate, uint8_t channels, uint16_t ptime)
+uint32_t au_calc_nsamp(uint32_t srate, uint8_t channels, uint16_t ptime)
 {
 	return srate * channels * ptime / 1000;
 }