diff --git a/src/io/mod.rs b/src/io/mod.rs
index 1d7c2b6..dbdffe2 100644
--- a/src/io/mod.rs
+++ b/src/io/mod.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ impl Io {
     }
 
     /// Returns true if the path ends with a recognized GZIP file extension
-    fn is_gzip_path<P: AsRef<Path>>(p: &P) -> bool {
+    pub fn is_gzip_path<P: AsRef<Path>>(p: &P) -> bool {
         if let Some(ext) = p.as_ref().extension() {
             match ext.to_str() {
                 Some(x) => GZIP_EXTENSIONS.contains(&x),