diff --git a/scripts/mbedtls_dev/c_build_helper.py b/scripts/mbedtls_dev/c_build_helper.py
index 805b8e5f06..d76b746060 100644
--- a/scripts/mbedtls_dev/c_build_helper.py
+++ b/scripts/mbedtls_dev/c_build_helper.py
@@ -90,6 +90,13 @@ int main(void)
 ''')
 
 def compile_c_file(c_filename, exe_filename, include_dirs):
+    """Compile a C source file with the host compiler.
+
+    * ``c_filename``: the name of the source file to compile.
+    * ``exe_filename``: the name for the executable to be created.
+    * ``include_dirs``: a list of paths to include directories to be passed
+      with the -I switch.
+    """
     # Respect $HOSTCC if it is set
     cc = os.getenv('HOSTCC', None)
     if cc is None: