diff --git a/src/ops.c b/src/ops.c
index 3a86432b01..4fcc0d607e 100644
--- a/src/ops.c
+++ b/src/ops.c
@@ -811,17 +811,6 @@ void put_register(int name, void *reg)
 
 }
 
-void free_register(void *reg)
-{
-  struct yankreg tmp;
-
-  tmp = *y_current;
-  *y_current = *(struct yankreg *)reg;
-  free_yank_all();
-  vim_free(reg);
-  *y_current = tmp;
-}
-
 /*
  * return TRUE if the current yank register has type MLINE
  */
diff --git a/src/ops.h b/src/ops.h
index 18ffa4ce83..a9fa583605 100644
--- a/src/ops.h
+++ b/src/ops.h
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ int valid_yank_reg(int regname, int writing);
 void get_yank_register(int regname, int writing);
 void *get_register(int name, int copy) FUNC_ATTR_NONNULL_RET;
 void put_register(int name, void *reg);
-void free_register(void *reg);
 int yank_register_mline(int regname);
 int do_record(int c);
 int do_execreg(int regname, int colon, int addcr, int silent);