diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/hist.c b/tools/perf/ui/hist.c
index c1f24d00485272..5075ecead5f3d7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/hist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/hist.c
@@ -535,6 +535,18 @@ struct perf_hpp_list perf_hpp_list = {
 #undef __HPP_SORT_ACC_FN
 #undef __HPP_SORT_RAW_FN
 
+static void fmt_free(struct perf_hpp_fmt *fmt)
+{
+	/*
+	 * At this point fmt should be completely
+	 * unhooked, if not it's a bug.
+	 */
+	BUG_ON(!list_empty(&fmt->list));
+	BUG_ON(!list_empty(&fmt->sort_list));
+
+	if (fmt->free)
+		fmt->free(fmt);
+}
 
 void perf_hpp__init(void)
 {
@@ -598,9 +610,10 @@ void perf_hpp_list__prepend_sort_field(struct perf_hpp_list *list,
 	list_add(&format->sort_list, &list->sorts);
 }
 
-void perf_hpp__column_unregister(struct perf_hpp_fmt *format)
+static void perf_hpp__column_unregister(struct perf_hpp_fmt *format)
 {
 	list_del_init(&format->list);
+	fmt_free(format);
 }
 
 void perf_hpp__cancel_cumulate(void)
@@ -672,19 +685,6 @@ void perf_hpp__append_sort_keys(struct perf_hpp_list *list)
 }
 
 
-static void fmt_free(struct perf_hpp_fmt *fmt)
-{
-	/*
-	 * At this point fmt should be completely
-	 * unhooked, if not it's a bug.
-	 */
-	BUG_ON(!list_empty(&fmt->list));
-	BUG_ON(!list_empty(&fmt->sort_list));
-
-	if (fmt->free)
-		fmt->free(fmt);
-}
-
 void perf_hpp__reset_output_field(struct perf_hpp_list *list)
 {
 	struct perf_hpp_fmt *fmt, *tmp;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/hist.h b/tools/perf/util/hist.h
index 96b1c13bbccc52..919f2c6c481424 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/hist.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/hist.h
@@ -362,7 +362,6 @@ enum {
 };
 
 void perf_hpp__init(void);
-void perf_hpp__column_unregister(struct perf_hpp_fmt *format);
 void perf_hpp__cancel_cumulate(void);
 void perf_hpp__setup_output_field(struct perf_hpp_list *list);
 void perf_hpp__reset_output_field(struct perf_hpp_list *list);