diff --git a/plugins/lua/spectate.lua b/plugins/lua/spectate.lua
index b50ab399dc..732fc053d6 100644
--- a/plugins/lua/spectate.lua
+++ b/plugins/lua/spectate.lua
@@ -86,16 +86,6 @@ end
 
 local config, save_state = load_state()
 
--- called by gui/spectate
-function get_config_elem(name, key)
-    local elem = config[name]
-    if not elem then return end
-    if type(elem) == 'table' then
-        return elem[key]
-    end
-    return elem
-end
-
 function refresh_cpp_config()
     for name,value in pairs(config) do
         if not name:startswith(lua_only_settings_prefix) then
@@ -624,4 +614,7 @@ OVERLAY_WIDGETS = {
     tooltip=TooltipOverlay,
 }
 
+-- make public
+_ENV.config, _ENV.save_state = config, save_state
+
 return _ENV