diff --git a/libavformat/avio.c b/libavformat/avio.c
index 18b2ee6c22..cb923a726e 100644
--- a/libavformat/avio.c
+++ b/libavformat/avio.c
@@ -365,6 +365,7 @@ int ffurl_close(URLContext *h)
     return ret;
 }
 
+#if FF_API_OLD_AVIO
 int url_exist(const char *filename)
 {
     URLContext *h;
@@ -373,6 +374,7 @@ int url_exist(const char *filename)
     ffurl_close(h);
     return 1;
 }
+#endif
 
 int avio_check(const char *url, int flags)
 {
diff --git a/libavformat/avio.h b/libavformat/avio.h
index 14aa599fe0..f4674a43be 100644
--- a/libavformat/avio.h
+++ b/libavformat/avio.h
@@ -339,13 +339,14 @@ attribute_deprecated int url_open_buf(AVIOContext **s, uint8_t *buf, int buf_siz
 
 /** return the written or read size */
 attribute_deprecated int url_close_buf(AVIOContext *s);
-#endif // FF_API_OLD_AVIO
 
 /**
  * Return a non-zero value if the resource indicated by url
  * exists, 0 otherwise.
+ * @deprecated Use avio_check instead.
  */
-int url_exist(const char *url);
+attribute_deprecated int url_exist(const char *url);
+#endif // FF_API_OLD_AVIO
 
 /**
  * Return AVIO_* access flags corresponding to the access permissions