diff --git a/lib/sensor_gm1351.c b/lib/sensor_gm1351.c
index 371324c..c77823d 100644
--- a/lib/sensor_gm1351.c
+++ b/lib/sensor_gm1351.c
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ void sensor_gm1351_power_toggle(void)
 /** decode LCD pattern to displayed number
  *  @return if number has been decoded correctly
  */
-static bool sensor_gm1351_decode(void)
+bool sensor_gm1351_decode(void)
 {
 	// do some sanity check
 	if (sensor_gm1351_data[0] != 0xa0) { // set LCD segments header
diff --git a/lib/sensor_gm1351.h b/lib/sensor_gm1351.h
index 030c6e8..fc0ee88 100644
--- a/lib/sensor_gm1351.h
+++ b/lib/sensor_gm1351.h
@@ -19,15 +19,21 @@
  *  @note peripherals used: GPIO @ref sensor_gm1351_gpio, SPI @ref sensor_gm1351_spi
  */
 
-/** measurement displayed on meter LCD */
+/** measurement displayed on meter LCD, in deci-dBa
+ *  @warning value is only valid if decoding is successful
+ */
 extern uint16_t sensor_gm1351_decidba;
-/** flag set when valid measurement has been received */
+/** flag set when LCD data has been received */
 extern volatile bool sensor_gm1351_received_flag;
 
 /** initialise interface to GM1351 sound level meter */
 void sensor_gm1351_setup(void);
 /** switch power of meter
- *  @warning: the device will power off after 10 minutes
+ *  @warning the device will power off after 10 minutes
  */
 void sensor_gm1351_power_toggle(void);
-
+/** decode LCD data to displayed number
+ *  @return if number has been decoded correctly
+ *  @warning should be done before the next LCD data is being received (e.g. right after the flag is set)
+ */
+bool sensor_gm1351_decode(void);