diff --git a/match.c b/match.c
index 286c077..5b99bce 100644
--- a/match.c
+++ b/match.c
@@ -664,25 +664,4 @@ size_t free_all_matches(void)
 }
 #endif
 
-//
-// Deallocate memory referenced inside a pattern struct
-//
-void destroy_pat(pat_t *pat)
-{
-    switch (pat->type) {
-        case VM_STRING: case VM_REF:
-            xfree(&pat->args.s);
-            break;
-        case VM_CAPTURE:
-            if (pat->args.capture.name)
-                xfree(&pat->args.capture.name);
-            break;
-        case VM_REPLACE:
-            if (pat->args.replace.text)
-                xfree(&pat->args.replace.text);
-            break;
-        default: break;
-    }
-}
-
 // vim: ts=4 sw=0 et cino=L2,l1,(0,W4,m1
diff --git a/match.h b/match.h
index f297350..9530321 100644
--- a/match.h
+++ b/match.h
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ __attribute__((hot, nonnull(2,3,4)))
 match_t *match(def_t *defs, file_t *f, const char *str, pat_t *pat, unsigned int flags);
 __attribute__((nonnull))
 match_t *get_capture(match_t *m, const char **id);
-__attribute__((nonnull))
-void destroy_pat(pat_t *pat);
 match_t *new_match(void);
 __attribute__((nonnull))
 void recycle_if_unused(match_t **at_m);
diff --git a/pattern.c b/pattern.c
index a065f3f..785e5ba 100644
--- a/pattern.c
+++ b/pattern.c
@@ -613,4 +613,25 @@ def_t *bp_definition(file_t *f, const char *str)
     return def;
 }
 
+//
+// Deallocate memory referenced inside a pattern struct
+//
+void destroy_pat(pat_t *pat)
+{
+    switch (pat->type) {
+        case VM_STRING: case VM_REF:
+            xfree(&pat->args.s);
+            break;
+        case VM_CAPTURE:
+            if (pat->args.capture.name)
+                xfree(&pat->args.capture.name);
+            break;
+        case VM_REPLACE:
+            if (pat->args.replace.text)
+                xfree(&pat->args.replace.text);
+            break;
+        default: break;
+    }
+}
+
 // vim: ts=4 sw=0 et cino=L2,l1,(0,W4,m1
diff --git a/pattern.h b/pattern.h
index 933eb83..c0a5ed4 100644
--- a/pattern.h
+++ b/pattern.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ __attribute__((nonnull))
 pat_t *bp_pattern(file_t *f, const char *str);
 __attribute__((nonnull))
 def_t *bp_definition(file_t *f, const char *str);
+__attribute__((nonnull))
+void destroy_pat(pat_t *pat);
 
 #endif
 // vim: ts=4 sw=0 et cino=L2,l1,(0,W4,m1