diff --git a/src/core.c b/src/core.c
index da54c2e..61ad58d 100644
--- a/src/core.c
+++ b/src/core.c
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ int xl_parse(xemil_t* handle) {
 	return 1;
 }
 
-void recursive_free(xl_node_t* node) {
+static void recursive_free(xl_node_t* node) {
 	xl_node_t*	n = node->first_child;
 	xl_attribute_t* a = node->first_attribute;
 	while(n != NULL) {