diff --git a/net/netfilter/ipset/ip_set_core.c b/net/netfilter/ipset/ip_set_core.c
index cb120c3c040ec..2b87d9fd3f72d 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/ipset/ip_set_core.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/ipset/ip_set_core.c
@@ -500,14 +500,6 @@ __ip_set_put(struct ip_set *set)
 /* set->ref can be swapped out by ip_set_swap, netlink events (like dump) need
  * a separate reference counter
  */
-static inline void
-__ip_set_get_netlink(struct ip_set *set)
-{
-	write_lock_bh(&ip_set_ref_lock);
-	set->ref_netlink++;
-	write_unlock_bh(&ip_set_ref_lock);
-}
-
 static inline void
 __ip_set_put_netlink(struct ip_set *set)
 {