diff --git a/src/channel.c b/src/channel.c
index 47c742d..9c23bf4 100644
--- a/src/channel.c
+++ b/src/channel.c
@@ -3025,7 +3025,7 @@
  * Return a string indicating the status of the channel.
  * If "req_part" is not negative check that part.
  */
-    char *
+    static char *
 channel_status(channel_T *channel, int req_part)
 {
     ch_part_T part;