diff --git a/include/spdk_internal/event.h b/include/spdk_internal/event.h
index 5d343781a..bcc9cd59d 100644
--- a/include/spdk_internal/event.h
+++ b/include/spdk_internal/event.h
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ void spdk_subsystem_fini(spdk_msg_fn cb_fn, void *cb_arg);
 void spdk_subsystem_init_next(int rc);
 void spdk_subsystem_fini_next(void);
 void spdk_subsystem_config(FILE *fp);
+void spdk_app_json_config_load(const char *json_config_file, const char *rpc_addr,
+			       spdk_msg_fn cb_fn, void *cb_arg);
 
 /**
  * Save pointed \c subsystem configuration to the JSON write context \c w. In case of
diff --git a/lib/event/app.c b/lib/event/app.c
index 36993cb5f..f23ada976 100644
--- a/lib/event/app.c
+++ b/lib/event/app.c
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@
 #include "spdk/rpc.h"
 #include "spdk/util.h"
 
-#include "json_config.h"
-
 #define SPDK_APP_DEFAULT_LOG_LEVEL		SPDK_LOG_NOTICE
 #define SPDK_APP_DEFAULT_LOG_PRINT_LEVEL	SPDK_LOG_INFO
 #define SPDK_APP_DEFAULT_BACKTRACE_LOG_LEVEL	SPDK_LOG_ERROR
diff --git a/lib/event/json_config.c b/lib/event/json_config.c
index ca07e1195..cbb7082e3 100644
--- a/lib/event/json_config.c
+++ b/lib/event/json_config.c
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@
  *   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
  */
 
-#include "json_config.h"
-
 #include "spdk/stdinc.h"
 
 #include "spdk/util.h"
diff --git a/lib/event/json_config.h b/lib/event/json_config.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 5a620d028..000000000
--- a/lib/event/json_config.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,42 +0,0 @@
-/*-
- *   BSD LICENSE
- *
- *   Copyright (c) Intel Corporation.
- *   All rights reserved.
- *
- *   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
- *   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
- *   are met:
- *
- *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
- *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
- *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
- *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
- *       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
- *       distribution.
- *     * Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its
- *       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
- *       from this software without specific prior written permission.
- *
- *   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
- *   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
- *   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
- *   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
- *   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
- *   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
- *   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
- *   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
- *   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
- *   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
- *   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
- */
-
-#ifndef SPDK_JSON_CONFIG_H
-#define SPDK_JSON_CONFIG_H
-
-#include "spdk/thread.h"
-
-void spdk_app_json_config_load(const char *json_config_file, const char *rpc_addr,
-			       spdk_msg_fn cb_fn, void *cb_arg);
-
-#endif /* SPDK_JSON_CONFIG_H */