diff --git a/database.hh b/database.hh
index 13df2ca6fc..66c21c6ce0 100644
--- a/database.hh
+++ b/database.hh
@@ -761,13 +761,7 @@ public:
 
     // SSTable writes are now allowed again, and generation is updated to new_generation if != -1
     // returns the amount of microseconds elapsed since we disabled writes.
-    std::chrono::steady_clock::duration enable_sstable_write(int64_t new_generation) {
-        if (new_generation != -1) {
-            update_sstables_known_generation(new_generation);
-        }
-        _sstables_lock.write_unlock();
-        return std::chrono::steady_clock::now() - _sstable_writes_disabled_at;
-    }
+    std::chrono::steady_clock::duration enable_sstable_write(int64_t new_generation);
 
     // Make sure the generation numbers are sequential, starting from "start".
     // Generations before "start" are left untouched.
diff --git a/table.cc b/table.cc
index d79c6bba3a..bc9b7f264f 100644
--- a/table.cc
+++ b/table.cc
@@ -1969,6 +1969,13 @@ table::disable_sstable_write() {
     });
 }
 
+std::chrono::steady_clock::duration table::enable_sstable_write(int64_t new_generation) {
+    if (new_generation != -1) {
+        update_sstables_known_generation(new_generation);
+    }
+    _sstables_lock.write_unlock();
+    return std::chrono::steady_clock::now() - _sstable_writes_disabled_at;
+}
 
 void table::set_schema(schema_ptr s) {
     assert(s->is_counter() == _schema->is_counter());