diff --git a/output.cc b/output.cc
index 29c294c79..3babe63fd 100644
--- a/output.cc
+++ b/output.cc
@@ -1320,6 +1320,15 @@ void write_xml_hosthint(const Target *currenths) {
   log_flush_all();
 }
 
+void log_bogus_target(const char *expr) {
+  xml_open_start_tag("target");
+  xml_attribute("specification", "%s", expr);
+  xml_attribute("status", "skipped");
+  xml_attribute("reason", "invalid");
+  xml_close_empty_tag();
+  xml_newline();
+}
+
 static void write_xml_osclass(const OS_Classification *osclass, double accuracy) {
   xml_open_start_tag("osclass");
   xml_attribute("type", "%s", osclass->Device_Type);
diff --git a/output.h b/output.h
index e4b7ea57f..61ace6401 100644
--- a/output.h
+++ b/output.h
@@ -199,6 +199,11 @@ void write_host_status(const Target *currenths);
 /* Writes host status info to the XML stream wrapped in a <hosthint> tag */
 void write_xml_hosthint(const Target *currenths);
 
+/* Add a <target> element to the XML stating that a target specification was
+   ignored. This can be because of, for example, a DNS resolution failure, or a
+   syntax error. */
+void log_bogus_target(const char *expr);
+
 /* Prints the formatted OS Scan output to stdout, logfiles, etc (but only
    if an OS Scan was performed */
 void printosscanoutput(const Target *currenths);
diff --git a/targets.cc b/targets.cc
index afd2dc85f..3a4b33892 100644
--- a/targets.cc
+++ b/targets.cc
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
 #include "nmap_dns.h"
 #include "utils.h"
 #include "nmap_error.h"
-#include "xml.h"
+#include "output.h"
 
 extern NmapOps o;
 #ifdef WIN32
@@ -349,18 +349,6 @@ const char *HostGroupState::next_expression() {
   return NULL;
 }
 
-/* Add a <target> element to the XML stating that a target specification was
-   ignored. This can be because of, for example, a DNS resolution failure, or a
-   syntax error. */
-static void log_bogus_target(const char *expr) {
-  xml_open_start_tag("target");
-  xml_attribute("specification", "%s", expr);
-  xml_attribute("status", "skipped");
-  xml_attribute("reason", "invalid");
-  xml_close_empty_tag();
-  xml_newline();
-}
-
 /* Returns a newly allocated Target with the given address. Handles all the
    details like setting the Target's address and next hop. */
 static Target *setup_target(const HostGroupState *hs,