diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
index 0c90eba6ba3d..842ebe93ec19 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ static void free_kctls(struct hda_gen_spec *spec)
 	snd_array_free(&spec->kctls);
 }
 
-void snd_hda_gen_spec_free(struct hda_gen_spec *spec)
+static void snd_hda_gen_spec_free(struct hda_gen_spec *spec)
 {
 	if (!spec)
 		return;
@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ void snd_hda_gen_spec_free(struct hda_gen_spec *spec)
 	snd_array_free(&spec->paths);
 	snd_array_free(&spec->loopback_list);
 }
-EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_hda_gen_spec_free);
 
 /*
  * store user hints
diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h
index 07f767231c9f..9b2cbf8c1eb4 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h
@@ -296,7 +296,6 @@ struct hda_gen_spec {
 };
 
 int snd_hda_gen_spec_init(struct hda_gen_spec *spec);
-void snd_hda_gen_spec_free(struct hda_gen_spec *spec);
 
 int snd_hda_gen_init(struct hda_codec *codec);
 void snd_hda_gen_free(struct hda_codec *codec);
diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/patch_via.c b/sound/pci/hda/patch_via.c
index f84195f3ea31..778166259b3e 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/patch_via.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/patch_via.c
@@ -465,14 +465,8 @@ static void via_playback_pcm_hook(struct hda_pcm_stream *hinfo,
 
 static void via_free(struct hda_codec *codec)
 {
-	struct via_spec *spec = codec->spec;
-
-	if (!spec)
-		return;
-
 	vt1708_stop_hp_work(codec);
-	snd_hda_gen_spec_free(&spec->gen);
-	kfree(spec);
+	snd_hda_gen_free(codec);
 }
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_PM