diff --git a/ref-filter.c b/ref-filter.c
index 4321212197..ee97d7218e 100644
--- a/ref-filter.c
+++ b/ref-filter.c
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ struct atom_value {
 /*
  * Used to parse format string and sort specifiers
  */
-int parse_ref_filter_atom(const char *atom, const char *ep)
+static int parse_ref_filter_atom(const char *atom, const char *ep)
 {
 	const char *sp;
 	const char *arg;
diff --git a/ref-filter.h b/ref-filter.h
index 67fa6261b4..1ffc3ca816 100644
--- a/ref-filter.h
+++ b/ref-filter.h
@@ -104,8 +104,6 @@ struct ref_format {
 int filter_refs(struct ref_array *array, struct ref_filter *filter, unsigned int type);
 /*  Clear all memory allocated to ref_array */
 void ref_array_clear(struct ref_array *array);
-/*  Parse format string and sort specifiers */
-int parse_ref_filter_atom(const char *atom, const char *ep);
 /*  Used to verify if the given format is correct and to parse out the used atoms */
 int verify_ref_format(struct ref_format *format);
 /*  Sort the given ref_array as per the ref_sorting provided */