diff --git a/net/tipc/core.c b/net/tipc/core.c
index b47d1842a970..696468117985 100644
--- a/net/tipc/core.c
+++ b/net/tipc/core.c
@@ -101,6 +101,30 @@ int tipc_get_mode(void)
 	return tipc_mode;
 }
 
+/**
+ * buf_acquire - creates a TIPC message buffer
+ * @size: message size (including TIPC header)
+ *
+ * Returns a new buffer with data pointers set to the specified size.
+ *
+ * NOTE: Headroom is reserved to allow prepending of a data link header.
+ *       There may also be unrequested tailroom present at the buffer's end.
+ */
+
+struct sk_buff *buf_acquire(u32 size)
+{
+	struct sk_buff *skb;
+	unsigned int buf_size = (BUF_HEADROOM + size + 3) & ~3u;
+
+	skb = alloc_skb_fclone(buf_size, GFP_ATOMIC);
+	if (skb) {
+		skb_reserve(skb, BUF_HEADROOM);
+		skb_put(skb, size);
+		skb->next = NULL;
+	}
+	return skb;
+}
+
 /**
  * tipc_core_stop_net - shut down TIPC networking sub-systems
  */
diff --git a/net/tipc/core.h b/net/tipc/core.h
index 1e149f55f3e2..188799017abd 100644
--- a/net/tipc/core.h
+++ b/net/tipc/core.h
@@ -328,29 +328,7 @@ static inline struct tipc_msg *buf_msg(struct sk_buff *skb)
 	return (struct tipc_msg *)skb->data;
 }
 
-/**
- * buf_acquire - creates a TIPC message buffer
- * @size: message size (including TIPC header)
- *
- * Returns a new buffer with data pointers set to the specified size.
- *
- * NOTE: Headroom is reserved to allow prepending of a data link header.
- *       There may also be unrequested tailroom present at the buffer's end.
- */
-
-static inline struct sk_buff *buf_acquire(u32 size)
-{
-	struct sk_buff *skb;
-	unsigned int buf_size = (BUF_HEADROOM + size + 3) & ~3u;
-
-	skb = alloc_skb_fclone(buf_size, GFP_ATOMIC);
-	if (skb) {
-		skb_reserve(skb, BUF_HEADROOM);
-		skb_put(skb, size);
-		skb->next = NULL;
-	}
-	return skb;
-}
+extern struct sk_buff *buf_acquire(u32 size);
 
 /**
  * buf_discard - frees a TIPC message buffer