diff --git a/asm/field_map_obj.s b/asm/field_map_obj.s
index 0cc7f1fe37..2bf3ce5728 100644
--- a/asm/field_map_obj.s
+++ b/asm/field_map_obj.s
@@ -5,18 +5,6 @@
 
 	.text
 
-	thumb_func_start sub_808EAB0
-sub_808EAB0: @ 808EAB0
-	push {lr}
-	lsls r0, 16
-	lsrs r0, 16
-	lsls r1, 24
-	lsrs r1, 24
-	bl pal_patch_for_npc
-	pop {r0}
-	bx r0
-	thumb_func_end sub_808EAB0
-
 	thumb_func_start sub_808EAC4
 sub_808EAC4: @ 808EAC4
 	push {r4,lr}
diff --git a/include/field_map_obj.h b/include/field_map_obj.h
index 04bdb42d40..c5b23103f7 100644
--- a/include/field_map_obj.h
+++ b/include/field_map_obj.h
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ void npc_load_two_palettes__no_record(u16, u8);
 void npc_load_two_palettes__and_record(u16, u8);
 void pal_patch_for_npc(u16, u8);
 void sub_808E16C(s16, s16);
-void sub_808EAB0(u16, u8);
 void sub_8092FF0(s16, s16, s16 *, s16 *);
 u8 FieldObjectDirectionToImageAnimId(u8);
 void sub_80930E0(s16 *, s16 *, u8, u8);
diff --git a/src/field_map_obj.c b/src/field_map_obj.c
index b5a0ce5e5b..8042348f25 100644
--- a/src/field_map_obj.c
+++ b/src/field_map_obj.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ static void SetPlayerAvatarFieldObjectIdAndObjectId(u8, u8);
 /*static*/ void sub_808E38C(struct MapObject *);
 static u8 sub_808E8F4(const struct SpritePalette *);
 static u8 FindFieldObjectPaletteIndexByTag(u16);
+static void sub_808EAB0(u16, u8);
 
 // ROM data
 
@@ -1211,3 +1212,8 @@ void npc_load_two_palettes__and_record(u16 tag, u8 slot)
         }
     }
 }
+
+static void sub_808EAB0(u16 tag, u8 slot)
+{
+    pal_patch_for_npc(tag, slot);
+}