diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/classfile/compactHashtable.hpp b/src/hotspot/share/classfile/compactHashtable.hpp
index d7ccc14b61d..10deca17696 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/classfile/compactHashtable.hpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/classfile/compactHashtable.hpp
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ public:
 // offset from the CDS base address.
 
 template <typename V>
-V read_value_from_compact_hashtable(address base_address, u4 offset) {
+inline V read_value_from_compact_hashtable(address base_address, u4 offset) {
   return (V)(base_address + offset);
 }