diff --git a/include/asm-generic/sections.h b/include/asm-generic/sections.h
index 614fc809de34..7cba8ff10d3a 100644
--- a/include/asm-generic/sections.h
+++ b/include/asm-generic/sections.h
@@ -128,6 +128,22 @@ static inline bool init_section_intersects(void *virt, size_t size)
 	return memory_intersects(__init_begin, __init_end, virt, size);
 }
 
+/**
+ * is_kernel_core_data - checks if the pointer address is located in the
+ *			 .data section
+ *
+ * @addr: address to check
+ *
+ * Returns: true if the address is located in .data, false otherwise.
+ * Note: On some archs it may return true for core RODATA, and false
+ *       for others. But will always be true for core RW data.
+ */
+static inline bool is_kernel_core_data(unsigned long addr)
+{
+	return addr >= (unsigned long)_sdata &&
+	       addr < (unsigned long)_edata;
+}
+
 /**
  * is_kernel_rodata - checks if the pointer address is located in the
  *                    .rodata section
diff --git a/include/linux/kernel.h b/include/linux/kernel.h
index 46ca4404fb93..23f57a2d5a13 100644
--- a/include/linux/kernel.h
+++ b/include/linux/kernel.h
@@ -227,7 +227,6 @@ extern char *next_arg(char *args, char **param, char **val);
 
 extern int core_kernel_text(unsigned long addr);
 extern int init_kernel_text(unsigned long addr);
-extern int core_kernel_data(unsigned long addr);
 extern int __kernel_text_address(unsigned long addr);
 extern int kernel_text_address(unsigned long addr);
 extern int func_ptr_is_kernel_text(void *ptr);
diff --git a/kernel/extable.c b/kernel/extable.c
index 290661f68e6b..0e3412b48bba 100644
--- a/kernel/extable.c
+++ b/kernel/extable.c
@@ -82,24 +82,6 @@ int notrace core_kernel_text(unsigned long addr)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/**
- * core_kernel_data - tell if addr points to kernel data
- * @addr: address to test
- *
- * Returns true if @addr passed in is from the core kernel data
- * section.
- *
- * Note: On some archs it may return true for core RODATA, and false
- *  for others. But will always be true for core RW data.
- */
-int core_kernel_data(unsigned long addr)
-{
-	if (addr >= (unsigned long)_sdata &&
-	    addr < (unsigned long)_edata)
-		return 1;
-	return 0;
-}
-
 int __kernel_text_address(unsigned long addr)
 {
 	if (kernel_text_address(addr))
diff --git a/kernel/trace/ftrace.c b/kernel/trace/ftrace.c
index feebf57c6458..7aaef2b78760 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/ftrace.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/ftrace.c
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ int __register_ftrace_function(struct ftrace_ops *ops)
 	if (!ftrace_enabled && (ops->flags & FTRACE_OPS_FL_PERMANENT))
 		return -EBUSY;
 
-	if (!core_kernel_data((unsigned long)ops))
+	if (!is_kernel_core_data((unsigned long)ops))
 		ops->flags |= FTRACE_OPS_FL_DYNAMIC;
 
 	add_ftrace_ops(&ftrace_ops_list, ops);
diff --git a/net/sysctl_net.c b/net/sysctl_net.c
index f6cb0d4d114c..4b45ed631eb8 100644
--- a/net/sysctl_net.c
+++ b/net/sysctl_net.c
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ static void ensure_safe_net_sysctl(struct net *net, const char *path,
 		addr = (unsigned long)ent->data;
 		if (is_module_address(addr))
 			where = "module";
-		else if (core_kernel_data(addr))
+		else if (is_kernel_core_data(addr))
 			where = "kernel";
 		else
 			continue;