diff --git a/src/lib/io/schedule.c b/src/lib/io/schedule.c
index ba67a37178ce..1c5236dc8f40 100644
--- a/src/lib/io/schedule.c
+++ b/src/lib/io/schedule.c
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ static void *fr_schedule_worker_thread(void *arg)
 		cs = cf_section_find(sc->cs, "worker", buffer);
 		if (!cs) cs = cf_section_find(sc->cs, "worker", NULL);
 
-		if (sc->worker_thread_instantiate(sw->ctx, fr_worker_el(sw->worker), cs) < 0) {
+		if (sc->worker_thread_instantiate(sw->ctx, sw->el, cs) < 0) {
 			ERROR("Worker %d - Failed calling thread instantiate: %s", sw->id, fr_strerror());
 			goto fail;
 		}
diff --git a/src/lib/io/worker.c b/src/lib/io/worker.c
index e9db1e4d9461..353c6d051659 100644
--- a/src/lib/io/worker.c
+++ b/src/lib/io/worker.c
@@ -1112,18 +1112,6 @@ fr_worker_t *fr_worker_create(TALLOC_CTX *ctx, char const *name, fr_event_list_t
 	return worker;
 }
 
-/** Get the event loop for the worker
- *
- * @param[in] worker the worker data structure
- * @return kq
- */
-fr_event_list_t *fr_worker_el(fr_worker_t *worker)
-{
-	WORKER_VERIFY;
-
-	return worker->el;
-}
-
 
 /** The main loop and entry point of the worker thread.
  *
diff --git a/src/lib/io/worker.h b/src/lib/io/worker.h
index eebdce6d8028..aed3894a7cb9 100644
--- a/src/lib/io/worker.h
+++ b/src/lib/io/worker.h
@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ fr_worker_t	*fr_worker_create(TALLOC_CTX *ctx, char const *name, fr_event_list_t
 
 void		fr_worker_destroy(fr_worker_t *worker) CC_HINT(nonnull);
 
-fr_event_list_t *fr_worker_el(fr_worker_t *worker) CC_HINT(nonnull);
-
 void		fr_worker(fr_worker_t *worker) CC_HINT(nonnull);
 
 void		fr_worker_debug(fr_worker_t *worker, FILE *fp) CC_HINT(nonnull);