diff --git a/src/macros.h b/src/macros.h
index fbd3440c6d..af47fbe296 100644
--- a/src/macros.h
+++ b/src/macros.h
@@ -10,11 +10,6 @@
  * macros.h: macro definitions for often used code
  */
 
-/*
- * pchar(lp, c) - put character 'c' at position 'lp'
- */
-#define pchar(lp, c) (*(ml_get_buf(curbuf, (lp).lnum, TRUE) + (lp).col) = (c))
-
 /*
  * Position comparisons
  */
diff --git a/src/ops.c b/src/ops.c
index c92dc6b921..06ce1b0ba9 100644
--- a/src/ops.c
+++ b/src/ops.c
@@ -1698,6 +1698,14 @@ static void mb_adjust_opend(oparg_T *oap)
   }
 }
 
+/*
+ * Put character 'c' at position 'lp'
+ */
+static inline void pchar(pos_T lp, int c)
+{
+    *(ml_get_buf(curbuf, lp.lnum, TRUE) + lp.col) = c;;
+}
+
 /*
  * Replace a whole area with one character.
  */