diff --git a/include/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h b/include/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h
index 03097fa70975..e142b2b5f1ea 100644
--- a/include/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h
+++ b/include/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h
@@ -19,7 +19,4 @@ struct ip_conntrack_stat {
 	unsigned int search_restart;
 };
 
-/* call to create an explicit dependency on nf_conntrack. */
-void need_conntrack(void);
-
 #endif /* _NF_CONNTRACK_COMMON_H */
diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_standalone.c b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_standalone.c
index 13279f683da9..e3b329ebafd3 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_standalone.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_standalone.c
@@ -720,10 +720,3 @@ static void __exit nf_conntrack_standalone_fini(void)
 
 module_init(nf_conntrack_standalone_init);
 module_exit(nf_conntrack_standalone_fini);
-
-/* Some modules need us, but don't depend directly on any symbol.
-   They should call this. */
-void need_conntrack(void)
-{
-}
-EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(need_conntrack);