diff --git a/eeschema/class_libentry.cpp b/eeschema/class_libentry.cpp
index 7476da6570..ccb00bfc0d 100644
--- a/eeschema/class_libentry.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/class_libentry.cpp
@@ -265,6 +265,16 @@ wxString LIB_PART::SubReference( int aUnit, bool aAddSeparator )
 }
 
 
+const wxString& LIB_PART::GetName() const
+{
+    static wxString dummy;
+
+    wxCHECK_MSG( m_aliases.size(), dummy, "no aliases defined for symbol" );
+
+    return m_aliases[0]->GetName();
+}
+
+
 void LIB_PART::SetName( const wxString& aName )
 {
     m_libId.SetLibItemName( aName, false );
diff --git a/eeschema/class_libentry.h b/eeschema/class_libentry.h
index 4e9de9201a..37215f6f7f 100644
--- a/eeschema/class_libentry.h
+++ b/eeschema/class_libentry.h
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ public:
 
     virtual void SetName( const wxString& aName );
 
-    const wxString& GetName() const { return m_aliases[0]->GetName(); }
+    const wxString& GetName() const;
 
     const LIB_ID& GetLibId() const { return m_libId; }