diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
index 7a4a2caeb4..47cec0768b 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
@@ -4325,7 +4325,7 @@ qemuProcessStartValidateXML(virDomainObjPtr vm,
  * start the domain but create a valid qemu command.  If some code shouldn't be
  * executed in this case, make sure to check this flag.
  */
-int
+static int
 qemuProcessStartValidate(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
                          virDomainObjPtr vm,
                          virQEMUCapsPtr qemuCaps,
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_process.h b/src/qemu/qemu_process.h
index 61d9f56d7f..13845d7fd1 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_process.h
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_process.h
@@ -89,13 +89,6 @@ virCommandPtr qemuProcessCreatePretendCmd(virConnectPtr conn,
                                           bool standalone,
                                           unsigned int flags);
 
-int qemuProcessStartValidate(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
-                             virDomainObjPtr vm,
-                             virQEMUCapsPtr qemuCaps,
-                             bool migration,
-                             bool snap,
-                             unsigned int flags);
-
 int qemuProcessInit(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
                     virDomainObjPtr vm,
                     qemuDomainAsyncJob asyncJob,