diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/gc/shared/barrierSetNMethod.hpp b/src/hotspot/share/gc/shared/barrierSetNMethod.hpp
index c0abd35b9de..95dabc78cb4 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/gc/shared/barrierSetNMethod.hpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/gc/shared/barrierSetNMethod.hpp
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ private:
   };
 
   void deoptimize(nmethod* nm, address* return_addr_ptr);
-  bool is_armed_permanently(nmethod* nm) { return guard_value(nm) < 0; }
   void arm(nmethod* nm) { arm_with(nm, armed); }
 
 protected: