diff --git a/lib/dns/dispatch.c b/lib/dns/dispatch.c
index de1d4369d5..d101556807 100644
--- a/lib/dns/dispatch.c
+++ b/lib/dns/dispatch.c
@@ -164,15 +164,6 @@ static void destroy_mgr(dns_dispatchmgr_t **mgrp);
 
 #define LVL(x) ISC_LOG_DEBUG(x)
 
-static inline void
-violate_locking_hierarchy(isc_mutex_t *have, isc_mutex_t *want) {
-	if (isc_mutex_trylock(want) != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
-		UNLOCK(have);
-		LOCK(want);
-		LOCK(have);
-	}
-}
-
 static void
 mgr_log(dns_dispatchmgr_t *mgr, int level, const char *fmt, ...) {
 	char msgbuf[2048];