diff --git a/src/corelib/io/qfilesystemmetadata_p.h b/src/corelib/io/qfilesystemmetadata_p.h
index c10b66afaf7..12aebdd7079 100644
--- a/src/corelib/io/qfilesystemmetadata_p.h
+++ b/src/corelib/io/qfilesystemmetadata_p.h
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ public:
 
     qint64 size() const                     { return size_; }
 
-    QFile::Permissions permissions() const;
+    inline QFile::Permissions permissions() const;
 
     QDateTime accessTime() const;
     QDateTime birthTime() const;