diff --git a/py/bc.c b/py/bc.c
index d671b64f9..7dd4b2246 100644
--- a/py/bc.c
+++ b/py/bc.c
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@
 #define DEBUG_printf(...) (void)0
 #endif
 
+#if !MICROPY_PERSISTENT_CODE
+
 mp_uint_t mp_decode_uint(const byte **ptr) {
     mp_uint_t unum = 0;
     byte val;
@@ -70,6 +72,8 @@ const byte *mp_decode_uint_skip(const byte *ptr) {
     return ptr;
 }
 
+#endif
+
 STATIC NORETURN void fun_pos_args_mismatch(mp_obj_fun_bc_t *f, size_t expected, size_t given) {
 #if MICROPY_ERROR_REPORTING == MICROPY_ERROR_REPORTING_TERSE
     // generic message, used also for other argument issues