diff --git a/src/util/string_container.cpp b/src/util/string_container.cpp
index 4a8cee9b54a..262634af190 100644
--- a/src/util/string_container.cpp
+++ b/src/util/string_container.cpp
@@ -74,10 +74,3 @@ unsigned string_containert::get(const std::string &s)
 
   return r;
 }
-
-/// Get a reference to the global string container.
-string_containert &get_string_container()
-{
-  static string_containert ret;
-  return ret;
-}
diff --git a/src/util/string_container.h b/src/util/string_container.h
index eca7d89bea3..b63cb38905e 100644
--- a/src/util/string_container.h
+++ b/src/util/string_container.h
@@ -89,6 +89,11 @@ class string_containert
   string_vectort string_vector;
 };
 
-string_containert &get_string_container();
+/// Get a reference to the global string container.
+inline string_containert &get_string_container()
+{
+  static string_containert ret;
+  return ret;
+}
 
 #endif // CPROVER_UTIL_STRING_CONTAINER_H