diff --git a/epan/column-utils.c b/epan/column-utils.c
index 666e882733..b4b01256cc 100644
--- a/epan/column-utils.c
+++ b/epan/column-utils.c
@@ -1231,14 +1231,8 @@ col_set_cls_time(const frame_data *fd, column_info *cinfo, const gint col)
   }
 }
 
-/* Set the format of the variable time format.
-   XXX - this is called from "file.c" when the user changes the time
-   format they want for "command-line-specified" time; it's a bit ugly
-   that we have to export it, but if we go to a CList-like widget that
-   invokes callbacks to get the text for the columns rather than
-   requiring us to stuff the text into the widget from outside, we
-   might be able to clean this up. */
-void
+/* Set the format of the variable time format. */
+static void
 col_set_fmt_time(const frame_data *fd, column_info *cinfo, const gint fmt, const gint col)
 {
   COL_CHECK_REF_TIME(fd, cinfo->col_buf[col]);
diff --git a/epan/column-utils.h b/epan/column-utils.h
index 65fc571a5b..c92bc1e219 100644
--- a/epan/column-utils.h
+++ b/epan/column-utils.h
@@ -52,12 +52,6 @@ extern void	col_setup(column_info *cinfo, const gint num_cols);
  */
 extern void	col_init(column_info *cinfo);
 
-/** Set the format of the "variable time format".
- *
- * Internal, don't use this in dissectors!
- */
-extern void	col_set_fmt_time(const frame_data *fd, column_info *cinfo, const gint fmt, const gint col);
-
 /** Fill in all columns of the given packet which are based on values from frame_data.
  *
  * Internal, don't use this in dissectors!
diff --git a/epan/libwireshark.def b/epan/libwireshark.def
index a9064c2565..839c9f46e9 100644
--- a/epan/libwireshark.def
+++ b/epan/libwireshark.def
@@ -96,7 +96,6 @@ col_has_time_fmt
 col_prepend_fence_fstr
 col_prepend_fstr
 col_set_fence
-col_set_fmt_time
 col_set_str
 col_set_time
 col_set_writable