diff --git a/keywordset.h b/keywordset.h
index 26b60b02..2877a8ac 100644
--- a/keywordset.h
+++ b/keywordset.h
@@ -9,4 +9,6 @@ int keywordset_ismember(struct keywordset *kws, char *name);
 void keywordset_purge(struct keywordset *kws);
 void keywordset_free(struct keywordset *kws);
 
+__attribute__ ((unused)) static void keywordset_free_byref (struct keywordset **kws) { keywordset_free(*kws); }
+
 #endif