diff --git a/ewah/ewok_rlw.h b/ewah/ewok_rlw.h
index d487966935e2d8..bafa24f4c3a033 100644
--- a/ewah/ewok_rlw.h
+++ b/ewah/ewok_rlw.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 
 #define RLW_RUNNING_LEN_PLUS_BIT (((eword_t)1 << (RLW_RUNNING_BITS + 1)) - 1)
 
-static int rlw_get_run_bit(const eword_t *word)
+static inline int rlw_get_run_bit(const eword_t *word)
 {
 	return *word & (eword_t)1;
 }