diff --git a/net/sched/act_ife.c b/net/sched/act_ife.c
index 252ee7d8c731..3007cb1310ea 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_ife.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_ife.c
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ static int ife_validate_metatype(struct tcf_meta_ops *ops, void *val, int len)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
 static const char *ife_meta_id2name(u32 metaid)
 {
 	switch (metaid) {
@@ -261,6 +262,7 @@ static const char *ife_meta_id2name(u32 metaid)
 		return "unknown";
 	}
 }
+#endif
 
 /* called when adding new meta information
  * under ife->tcf_lock for existing action