--- a/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.cc
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@ void InitProtobufDefaults() {
   (void)is_inited;
 }
 
+const std::string& GetEmptyString() {
+  InitProtobufDefaults();
+  return GetEmptyStringAlreadyInited();
+}
+
 size_t StringSpaceUsedExcludingSelfLong(const std::string& str) {
   const void* start = &str;
   const void* end = &str + 1;
--- a/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/generated_message_util.h
@@ -84,10 +84,7 @@ inline To DownCast(From& f) {
 PROTOBUF_EXPORT void InitProtobufDefaults();
 
 // This used by proto1
-PROTOBUF_EXPORT inline const std::string& GetEmptyString() {
-  InitProtobufDefaults();
-  return GetEmptyStringAlreadyInited();
-}
+PROTOBUF_EXPORT const ::std::string& GetEmptyString();
 
 
 // True if IsInitialized() is true for all elements of t.  Type is expected