diff --git a/src/core/refcnt.c b/src/core/refcnt.c
index cd6ab964..e540240f 100644
--- a/src/core/refcnt.c
+++ b/src/core/refcnt.c
@@ -76,3 +76,15 @@ void ref_put ( struct refcnt *refcnt ) {
 		free ( refcnt );
 	}
 }
+
+/**
+ * Do not free reference-counted object
+ *
+ * @v refcnt		Reference counter
+ *
+ * This is meant for initializing a reference counter structure in a
+ * statically allocated object.
+ */
+void ref_no_free ( struct refcnt *refcnt __unused ) {
+	/* Do nothing */
+}
diff --git a/src/image/embedded.c b/src/image/embedded.c
index 89905d7f..53d601a6 100644
--- a/src/image/embedded.c
+++ b/src/image/embedded.c
@@ -13,16 +13,6 @@ FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER );
 #include <ipxe/uaccess.h>
 #include <ipxe/init.h>
 
-/**
- * Free embedded image
- *
- * @v refcnt		Reference counter
- */
-static void __attribute__ (( unused ))
-embedded_image_free ( struct refcnt *refcnt __unused ) {
-	/* Do nothing */
-}
-
 /* Raw image data for all embedded images */
 #undef EMBED
 #define EMBED( _index, _path, _name )					\
@@ -41,7 +31,7 @@ EMBED_ALL
 /* Image structures for all embedded images */
 #undef EMBED
 #define EMBED( _index, _path, _name ) {					\
-	.refcnt = REF_INIT ( embedded_image_free ),			\
+	.refcnt = REF_INIT ( ref_no_free ),				\
 	.name = _name,							\
 	.data = ( userptr_t ) ( embedded_image_ ## _index ## _data ),	\
 	.len = ( size_t ) embedded_image_ ## _index ## _len,		\
diff --git a/src/include/ipxe/refcnt.h b/src/include/ipxe/refcnt.h
index f359ac9c..37f574dc 100644
--- a/src/include/ipxe/refcnt.h
+++ b/src/include/ipxe/refcnt.h
@@ -77,5 +77,6 @@ ref_init ( struct refcnt *refcnt,
 
 extern struct refcnt * ref_get ( struct refcnt *refcnt );
 extern void ref_put ( struct refcnt *refcnt );
+extern void ref_no_free ( struct refcnt *refcnt );
 
 #endif /* _IPXE_REFCNT_H */