diff --git a/libavcodec/codec2utils.h b/libavcodec/codec2utils.h
index e9b1f84d84..2ee7a592a1 100644
--- a/libavcodec/codec2utils.h
+++ b/libavcodec/codec2utils.h
@@ -70,11 +70,6 @@ static inline void codec2_make_extradata(uint8_t *ptr, int mode) {
     ptr[3] = 0;     //flags
 }
 
-//Returns version as a 16-bit value. 0.8 -> 0x0008
-static inline uint16_t codec2_version_from_extradata(uint8_t *ptr) {
-    return (ptr[0] << 8) + ptr[1];
-}
-
 static inline uint8_t codec2_mode_from_extradata(uint8_t *ptr) {
     return ptr[2];
 }
diff --git a/libavformat/codec2.c b/libavformat/codec2.c
index 1f7f16a106..bf2fb4aa43 100644
--- a/libavformat/codec2.c
+++ b/libavformat/codec2.c
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ static int codec2_read_header(AVFormatContext *s)
         return ret;
     }
 
-    version = codec2_version_from_extradata(st->codecpar->extradata);
+    version = AV_RB16(st->codecpar->extradata);
     if ((version >> 8) != EXPECTED_CODEC2_MAJOR_VERSION) {
         avpriv_report_missing_feature(s, "Major version %i", version >> 8);
         return AVERROR_PATCHWELCOME;