diff --git a/src/db/db/dbStreamLayers.h b/src/db/db/dbStreamLayers.h
index b142d7d95..630dc6bb8 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbStreamLayers.h
+++ b/src/db/db/dbStreamLayers.h
@@ -215,6 +215,15 @@ public:
    */
   std::pair<bool, unsigned int> logical (const db::LayerProperties &p) const;
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief A compatibility function for future enhancements
+   *  TODO: remove when lefdef branch is merged
+   */
+  std::pair<bool, unsigned int> first_logical (const db::LayerProperties &p) const
+  {
+    return logical (p);
+  }
+
   /**
    *  @brief Query or install a layer mapping from a name or LDPair
    *