diff --git a/lib/sensors.h b/lib/sensors.h
index c8350295..2a84a5b3 100644
--- a/lib/sensors.h
+++ b/lib/sensors.h
@@ -276,6 +276,25 @@ typedef struct sensors_quantity {
 
 const sensors_quantity *sensors_get_quantity(sensors_subfeature_type) __attribute__ ((const));
 
+static inline const char *sensors_temp_type_name(int sens)
+{
+	/* older kernels / drivers sometimes report a beta value for
+	   thermistors */
+	if (sens > 1000)
+		sens = 4;
+
+	switch (sens) {
+		case 0: return "disabled";
+		case 1: return "CPU diode";
+		case 2: return "transistor";
+		case 3: return "thermal diode";
+		case 4: return "thermistor";
+		case 5: return "AMD AMDSI";
+		case 6: return "Intel PECI";
+		default: return "unknown";
+	}
+}
+
 /* Data about a single chip feature (or category leader) */
 struct sensors_feature {
 	char *name;
diff --git a/prog/sensors/chips.c b/prog/sensors/chips.c
index 311b1daa..c847db78 100644
--- a/prog/sensors/chips.c
+++ b/prog/sensors/chips.c
@@ -409,13 +409,7 @@ static void print_chip_temp(const sensors_chip_name *name,
 		if (sens > 1000)
 			sens = 4;
 
-		printf("  sensor = %s", sens == 0 ? "disabled" :
-		       sens == 1 ? "CPU diode" :
-		       sens == 2 ? "transistor" :
-		       sens == 3 ? "thermal diode" :
-		       sens == 4 ? "thermistor" :
-		       sens == 5 ? "AMD AMDSI" :
-		       sens == 6 ? "Intel PECI" : "unknown");
+		printf("  sensor = %s", sensors_temp_type_name(sens));
 	}
 	printf("\n");
 }