diff --git a/include/net/net_namespace.h b/include/net/net_namespace.h
index f0f0cce0cd41..3292e6c1952c 100644
--- a/include/net/net_namespace.h
+++ b/include/net/net_namespace.h
@@ -237,6 +237,8 @@ extern struct list_head net_namespace_list;
 struct net *get_net_ns_by_pid(pid_t pid);
 struct net *get_net_ns_by_fd(int fd);
 
+u64 net_gen_cookie(struct net *net);
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_SYSCTL
 void ipx_register_sysctl(void);
 void ipx_unregister_sysctl(void);
@@ -285,8 +287,6 @@ static inline int check_net(const struct net *net)
 
 void net_drop_ns(void *);
 
-u64 net_gen_cookie(struct net *net);
-
 #else
 
 static inline struct net *get_net(struct net *net)
@@ -314,11 +314,6 @@ static inline int check_net(const struct net *net)
 	return 1;
 }
 
-static inline u64 net_gen_cookie(struct net *net)
-{
-	return 0;
-}
-
 #define net_drop_ns NULL
 #endif