diff --git a/include/nat.h b/include/nat.h
index 017778c5..6c85ca33 100644
--- a/include/nat.h
+++ b/include/nat.h
@@ -201,7 +201,6 @@ extern int getrel(struct natstr *np, natid them);
 extern int relations_with(natid, natid);
 extern int nat_accepts(natid, natid, enum rej_comm);
 extern int in_contact(natid, natid);
-extern void putrel(struct natstr *np, natid them, int relate);
 extern void agecontact(struct natstr *np);
 extern int influx(struct natstr *np);
 extern struct natstr *nat_reset(struct natstr *, natid, char *, char *,
diff --git a/src/lib/common/nat.c b/src/lib/common/nat.c
index 8ed75cc4..07608165 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/nat.c
+++ b/src/lib/common/nat.c
@@ -116,12 +116,6 @@ in_contact(natid us, natid them)
     return getcontactp(us)->con_contact[them];
 }
 
-void
-putrel(struct natstr *np, natid them, int relate)
-{
-    np->nat_relate[them] = relate;
-}
-
 int
 influx(struct natstr *np)
 {
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/rej.c b/src/lib/subs/rej.c
index 4135b3b0..699ad38a 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/rej.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/rej.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ setrel(natid us, natid them, int rel)
 	    "Country %s has %s their relations with you to \"%s\"!\n",
 	    prnat(mynp), whichway, relates[rel]);
 
-    putrel(mynp, them, rel);
+    mynp->nat_relate[them] = rel;
     putnat(mynp);
 
     if (!player->god) {