diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package-activate.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package-activate.el
index ce21cb279aa..be335ad1019 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package-activate.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package-activate.el
@@ -63,10 +63,9 @@ If VERSION is nil, the package is not made available (it is \"disabled\")."
 
 (defvar package--default-summary "No description available.")
 
-(define-inline package-vc-p (pkg-desc)
+(defun package-vc-p (pkg-desc)
   "Return non-nil if PKG-DESC is a VC package."
-  (inline-letevals (pkg-desc)
-    (inline-quote (eq (package-desc-kind ,pkg-desc) 'vc))))
+  (eq (package-desc-kind pkg-desc) 'vc))
 
 (cl-defstruct (package-desc
                ;; Rename the default constructor from `make-package-desc'.
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
index a87866e9023..0a4a0223b42 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
@@ -148,7 +148,6 @@
 (require 'cl-lib)
 (eval-when-compile (require 'subr-x))
 (eval-when-compile (require 'epg))      ;For setf accessors.
-(eval-when-compile (require 'inline))   ;For `define-inline'
 (require 'seq)
 
 (require 'tabulated-list)