diff --git a/include/linux/devfreq_cooling.h b/include/linux/devfreq_cooling.h
index c35d0c0e0ada..b84123b62d83 100644
--- a/include/linux/devfreq_cooling.h
+++ b/include/linux/devfreq_cooling.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ void devfreq_cooling_unregister(struct thermal_cooling_device *dfc);
 
 #else /* !CONFIG_DEVFREQ_THERMAL */
 
-struct thermal_cooling_device *
+static inline struct thermal_cooling_device *
 of_devfreq_cooling_register_power(struct device_node *np, struct devfreq *df,
 				  struct devfreq_cooling_power *dfc_power)
 {