diff --git a/lib/filterx/filterx-ref.c b/lib/filterx/filterx-ref.c
index 08f7b8052..75f155c08 100644
--- a/lib/filterx/filterx-ref.c
+++ b/lib/filterx/filterx-ref.c
@@ -238,12 +238,10 @@ _filterx_ref_add(FilterXObject *s, FilterXObject *object)
   return filterx_object_add_object(self->value, object);
 }
 
+/* NOTE: fastpath is in the header as an inline function */
 FilterXObject *
-filterx_ref_new(FilterXObject *value)
+_filterx_ref_new(FilterXObject *value)
 {
-  if (!value || value->readonly || !_filterx_type_is_referenceable(value->type))
-    return value;
-
   if (filterx_object_is_type(value, &FILTERX_TYPE_NAME(ref)))
     {
       FilterXRef *absorbed_ref = (FilterXRef *) value;
diff --git a/lib/filterx/filterx-ref.h b/lib/filterx/filterx-ref.h
index 9e68cfe72..88d5d6035 100644
--- a/lib/filterx/filterx-ref.h
+++ b/lib/filterx/filterx-ref.h
@@ -48,8 +48,6 @@ typedef struct _FilterXRef
 } FilterXRef;
 
 
-FilterXObject *filterx_ref_new(FilterXObject *value);
-
 /* Call them only where downcasting to a specific type is needed, the returned object should only be used locally. */
 FilterXObject *filterx_ref_unwrap_ro(FilterXObject *s);
 FilterXObject *filterx_ref_unwrap_rw(FilterXObject *s);
@@ -60,4 +58,14 @@ _filterx_type_is_referenceable(FilterXType *t)
   return t->is_mutable && t != &FILTERX_TYPE_NAME(ref);
 }
 
+FilterXObject *_filterx_ref_new(FilterXObject *value);
+
+static inline FilterXObject *
+filterx_ref_new(FilterXObject *value)
+{
+  if (!value || value->readonly || !_filterx_type_is_referenceable(value->type))
+    return value;
+  return _filterx_ref_new(value);
+}
+
 #endif