diff --git a/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.c b/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.c
index 35316c40d9..ff4f2001bb 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.c
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
 
-extern const VhostOps user_ops;
-
 static int vhost_kernel_call(struct vhost_dev *dev, unsigned long int request,
                              void *arg)
 {
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.h b/include/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.h
index d31768a1d4..e472f29714 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.h
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ typedef struct VhostOps {
     vhost_backend_cleanup vhost_backend_cleanup;
 } VhostOps;
 
+extern const VhostOps user_ops;
+
 int vhost_set_backend_type(struct vhost_dev *dev,
                            VhostBackendType backend_type);