diff --git a/src/openrct2-ui/windows/TrackDesignPlace.cpp b/src/openrct2-ui/windows/TrackDesignPlace.cpp
index 0449ebc999..0c3735357b 100644
--- a/src/openrct2-ui/windows/TrackDesignPlace.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2-ui/windows/TrackDesignPlace.cpp
@@ -471,9 +471,7 @@ static int32_t window_track_place_get_base_z(const CoordsXY& loc)
     if (surfaceElement->GetWaterHeight() > 0)
         z = std::max(z, surfaceElement->GetWaterHeight());
 
-    return z
-        + place_virtual_track(
-               _trackDesign.get(), PTD_OPERATION_GET_PLACE_Z, true, GetOrAllocateRide(PreviewRideId), { loc, z });
+    return z + TrackDesignGetZPlacement(_trackDesign.get(), GetOrAllocateRide(PreviewRideId), { loc, z });
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/openrct2/ride/TrackDesign.cpp b/src/openrct2/ride/TrackDesign.cpp
index c6bc9d40c1..e2c47ec7f2 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/ride/TrackDesign.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/ride/TrackDesign.cpp
@@ -1965,6 +1965,12 @@ money32 place_virtual_track(TrackDesign* td6, uint8_t ptdOperation, bool placeSc
     return place_virtual_track(tds, td6, ptdOperation, placeScenery, ride, coords);
 }
 
+int32_t TrackDesignGetZPlacement(TrackDesign* td6, Ride* ride, const CoordsXYZ& coords)
+{
+    TrackDesignState tds{};
+    return place_virtual_track(tds, td6, PTD_OPERATION_GET_PLACE_Z, true, ride, coords);
+}
+
 static money32 TrackDesignCreateRide(int32_t type, int32_t subType, int32_t flags, ride_id_t* outRideIndex)
 {
     // Don't set colours as will be set correctly later.
diff --git a/src/openrct2/ride/TrackDesign.h b/src/openrct2/ride/TrackDesign.h
index 28dbaf2aa7..1481e45603 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/ride/TrackDesign.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/ride/TrackDesign.h
@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ extern ride_id_t gTrackDesignSaveRideIndex;
 void TrackDesignMirror(TrackDesign* td6);
 
 money32 place_virtual_track(TrackDesign* td6, uint8_t ptdOperation, bool placeScenery, Ride* ride, const CoordsXYZ& coords);
+int32_t TrackDesignGetZPlacement(TrackDesign* td6, Ride* ride, const CoordsXYZ& coords);
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Track design preview