diff --git a/arch/alpha/kernel/binfmt_loader.c b/arch/alpha/kernel/binfmt_loader.c
index a8d0d6e06526..d712ba51d15a 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/binfmt_loader.c
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/binfmt_loader.c
@@ -35,9 +35,6 @@ static int load_binary(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 
 	bprm->file = file;
 	bprm->loader = loader;
-	retval = prepare_binprm(bprm);
-	if (retval < 0)
-		return retval;
 	return search_binary_handler(bprm);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/binfmt_em86.c b/fs/binfmt_em86.c
index 466497860c62..cedde2341ade 100644
--- a/fs/binfmt_em86.c
+++ b/fs/binfmt_em86.c
@@ -91,10 +91,6 @@ static int load_em86(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 
 	bprm->file = file;
 
-	retval = prepare_binprm(bprm);
-	if (retval < 0)
-		return retval;
-
 	return search_binary_handler(bprm);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/binfmt_misc.c b/fs/binfmt_misc.c
index 264829745d6f..50a73afdf9b7 100644
--- a/fs/binfmt_misc.c
+++ b/fs/binfmt_misc.c
@@ -221,10 +221,6 @@ static int load_misc_binary(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 	if (fmt->flags & MISC_FMT_CREDENTIALS)
 		bprm->preserve_creds = 1;
 
-	retval = prepare_binprm(bprm);
-	if (retval < 0)
-		goto error;
-
 	retval = search_binary_handler(bprm);
 	if (retval < 0)
 		goto error;
diff --git a/fs/binfmt_script.c b/fs/binfmt_script.c
index e9e6a6f4a35f..8d718d8fd0fe 100644
--- a/fs/binfmt_script.c
+++ b/fs/binfmt_script.c
@@ -143,9 +143,6 @@ static int load_script(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 		return PTR_ERR(file);
 
 	bprm->file = file;
-	retval = prepare_binprm(bprm);
-	if (retval < 0)
-		return retval;
 	return search_binary_handler(bprm);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/exec.c b/fs/exec.c
index 028e0e323af5..5fc458460e44 100644
--- a/fs/exec.c
+++ b/fs/exec.c
@@ -1629,7 +1629,7 @@ static void bprm_fill_uid(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
  *
  * This may be called multiple times for binary chains (scripts for example).
  */
-int prepare_binprm(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
+static int prepare_binprm(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 {
 	loff_t pos = 0;
 
@@ -1650,8 +1650,6 @@ int prepare_binprm(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 	return kernel_read(bprm->file, bprm->buf, BINPRM_BUF_SIZE, &pos);
 }
 
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(prepare_binprm);
-
 /*
  * Arguments are '\0' separated strings found at the location bprm->p
  * points to; chop off the first by relocating brpm->p to right after
@@ -1707,6 +1705,10 @@ int search_binary_handler(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 	if (bprm->recursion_depth > 5)
 		return -ELOOP;
 
+	retval = prepare_binprm(bprm);
+	if (retval < 0)
+		return retval;
+
 	retval = security_bprm_check(bprm);
 	if (retval)
 		return retval;
@@ -1864,10 +1866,6 @@ static int __do_execve_file(int fd, struct filename *filename,
 	if (retval)
 		goto out;
 
-	retval = prepare_binprm(bprm);
-	if (retval < 0)
-		goto out;
-
 	retval = copy_strings_kernel(1, &bprm->filename, bprm);
 	if (retval < 0)
 		goto out;
diff --git a/include/linux/binfmts.h b/include/linux/binfmts.h
index dbb5614d62a2..8c7779d6bf19 100644
--- a/include/linux/binfmts.h
+++ b/include/linux/binfmts.h
@@ -116,7 +116,6 @@ static inline void insert_binfmt(struct linux_binfmt *fmt)
 
 extern void unregister_binfmt(struct linux_binfmt *);
 
-extern int prepare_binprm(struct linux_binprm *);
 extern int __must_check remove_arg_zero(struct linux_binprm *);
 extern int search_binary_handler(struct linux_binprm *);
 extern int begin_new_exec(struct linux_binprm * bprm);