diff --git a/src/hb-private.hh b/src/hb-private.hh
index d9b0860b7..63ebc652a 100644
--- a/src/hb-private.hh
+++ b/src/hb-private.hh
@@ -889,7 +889,7 @@ hb_in_ranges (T u, T lo1, T hi1, T lo2, T hi2, T lo3, T hi3)
 #define FLAG_RANGE(x,y) (ASSERT_STATIC_EXPR_ZERO ((x) < (y)) + FLAG(y+1) - FLAG(x))
 
 
-template <typename T, typename T2> inline void
+template <typename T, typename T2> static inline void
 hb_bubble_sort (T *array, unsigned int len, int(*compar)(const T *, const T *), T2 *array2)
 {
   if (unlikely (!len))