diff --git a/skimage/feature/__init__.py b/skimage/feature/__init__.py
index 37954c92..4c646235 100644
--- a/skimage/feature/__init__.py
+++ b/skimage/feature/__init__.py
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ from ._daisy import daisy
 from ._hog import hog
 from .texture import (greycomatrix, greycoprops,
                       local_binary_pattern,
+                      multiblock_local_binary_pattern,
                       draw_multiblock_lbp)
 
-from ._texture import multiblock_local_binary_pattern
 from .peak import peak_local_max
 from .corner import (corner_kitchen_rosenfeld, corner_harris,
                      corner_shi_tomasi, corner_foerstner, corner_subpix,
diff --git a/skimage/feature/_texture.pyx b/skimage/feature/_texture.pyx
index 70d92c5c..98503534 100644
--- a/skimage/feature/_texture.pyx
+++ b/skimage/feature/_texture.pyx
@@ -274,11 +274,11 @@ cdef:
     Py_ssize_t[::1] mlbp_x_offsets = np.asarray([-1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, -1, -1])
     Py_ssize_t[::1] mlbp_y_offsets = np.asarray([-1, -1, -1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0])
 
-cdef int _multiblock_local_binary_pattern(float[:, ::1] int_image,
-                                          Py_ssize_t x,
-                                          Py_ssize_t y,
-                                          Py_ssize_t width,
-                                          Py_ssize_t height):
+def _multiblock_local_binary_pattern(float[:, ::1] int_image,
+                                     Py_ssize_t x,
+                                     Py_ssize_t y,
+                                     Py_ssize_t width,
+                                     Py_ssize_t height):
     """Multi-block local binary pattern.
 
     Parameters
@@ -354,49 +354,4 @@ cdef int _multiblock_local_binary_pattern(float[:, ::1] int_image,
     return lbp_code
 
 
-def multiblock_local_binary_pattern(int_image, x, y, width, height):
-    """Multi-block local binary pattern.
-
-    The features are calculated similarly to local binary patterns (LBPs),
-    except that summed blocks are used instead of individual pixel values.
-
-    MB-LBP is an extension of LBP that can be computed on multiple scales
-    in constant time using the integral image.
-    9 equally-sized rectangles are used to compute a feature.
-    For each rectangle, the sum of the pixel intensities is computed.
-    Comparisons of these sums to that of the central rectangle determine
-    the feature, similarly to LBP.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    int_image : (N, M) array
-        Integral image.
-    x : int
-        X-coordinate of top left corner of a rectangle containing feature.
-    y : int
-        Y-coordinate of top left corner of a rectangle containing feature.
-    width : int
-        Width of one of 9 equal rectangles that will be used to compute
-        a feature.
-    height : int
-        Height of one of 9 equal rectangles that will be used to compute
-        a feature.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    output : int
-        8-bit MB-LBP feature descriptor.
-
-    References
-    ----------
-    .. [1] Face Detection Based on Multi-Block LBP
-           Representation. Lun Zhang, Rufeng Chu, Shiming Xiang, Shengcai Liao,
-           Stan Z. Li
-           http://www.cbsr.ia.ac.cn/users/scliao/papers/Zhang-ICB07-MBLBP.pdf
-    """
-
-    int_image = np.ascontiguousarray(int_image, dtype=np.float32)
-    lbp_code = _multiblock_local_binary_pattern(int_image, x, y, width, height)
-    return lbp_code
-
 
diff --git a/skimage/feature/texture.py b/skimage/feature/texture.py
index efa119eb..5a3308a2 100644
--- a/skimage/feature/texture.py
+++ b/skimage/feature/texture.py
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ Methods to characterize image textures.
 import numpy as np
 from .._shared.utils import assert_nD
 from ..util import img_as_float
-from ._texture import _glcm_loop, _local_binary_pattern
+from ._texture import (_glcm_loop,
+                       _local_binary_pattern,
+                       _multiblock_local_binary_pattern)
 
 
 def greycomatrix(image, distances, angles, levels=256, symmetric=False,
@@ -294,6 +296,52 @@ def local_binary_pattern(image, P, R, method='default'):
     return output
 
 
+def multiblock_local_binary_pattern(int_image, x, y, width, height):
+    """Multi-block local binary pattern.
+
+    The features are calculated similarly to local binary patterns (LBPs),
+    except that summed blocks are used instead of individual pixel values.
+
+    MB-LBP is an extension of LBP that can be computed on multiple scales
+    in constant time using the integral image.
+    9 equally-sized rectangles are used to compute a feature.
+    For each rectangle, the sum of the pixel intensities is computed.
+    Comparisons of these sums to that of the central rectangle determine
+    the feature, similarly to LBP.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    int_image : (N, M) array
+        Integral image.
+    x : int
+        X-coordinate of top left corner of a rectangle containing feature.
+    y : int
+        Y-coordinate of top left corner of a rectangle containing feature.
+    width : int
+        Width of one of 9 equal rectangles that will be used to compute
+        a feature.
+    height : int
+        Height of one of 9 equal rectangles that will be used to compute
+        a feature.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    output : int
+        8-bit MB-LBP feature descriptor.
+
+    References
+    ----------
+    .. [1] Face Detection Based on Multi-Block LBP
+           Representation. Lun Zhang, Rufeng Chu, Shiming Xiang, Shengcai Liao,
+           Stan Z. Li
+           http://www.cbsr.ia.ac.cn/users/scliao/papers/Zhang-ICB07-MBLBP.pdf
+    """
+
+    int_image = np.ascontiguousarray(int_image, dtype=np.float32)
+    lbp_code = _multiblock_local_binary_pattern(int_image, x, y, width, height)
+    return lbp_code
+
+
 def draw_multiblock_lbp(img,
                         x,
                         y,