diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/cpp/cpp_message.cc b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/cpp/cpp_message.cc
index 79ed8aaa27cb..ff8b30834e89 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/cpp/cpp_message.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/cpp/cpp_message.cc
@@ -2381,7 +2381,7 @@ std::pair<size_t, size_t> MessageGenerator::GenerateOffsets(
 void MessageGenerator::GenerateSharedConstructorCode(io::Printer* printer) {
   Formatter format(printer, variables_);
 
-  format("inline void $classname$::SharedCtor() {\n");
+  format("void $classname$::SharedCtor() {\n");
 
   std::vector<bool> processed(optimized_order_.size(), false);
   GenerateConstructorBody(printer, processed, false);