diff --git a/runtime/gc_root-inl.h b/runtime/gc_root-inl.h
index 2661e54..482f7bc 100644
--- a/runtime/gc_root-inl.h
+++ b/runtime/gc_root-inl.h
@@ -29,10 +29,5 @@
   return ReadBarrier::BarrierForRoot<MirrorType, kReadBarrierOption>(&root_);
 }
 
-template<class MirrorType>
-inline void GcRoot<MirrorType>::Assign(MirrorType* value) {
-  root_ = value;
-}
-
 }  // namespace art
 #endif  // ART_RUNTIME_GC_ROOT_INL_H_
diff --git a/runtime/gc_root.h b/runtime/gc_root.h
index 3928f5d..b10a55c 100644
--- a/runtime/gc_root.h
+++ b/runtime/gc_root.h
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
  public:
   template<ReadBarrierOption kReadBarrierOption = kWithReadBarrier>
   ALWAYS_INLINE MirrorType* Read() SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
-  ALWAYS_INLINE void Assign(MirrorType* value) SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
   void VisitRoot(RootCallback* callback, void* arg, uint32_t thread_id, RootType root_type) {
     callback(reinterpret_cast<mirror::Object**>(&root_), arg, thread_id, root_type);