diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index 70d0fed689..6808753734 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -1552,17 +1552,6 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) writeBlockWithState(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.
 	return nil
 }
 
-// WriteBlockAndSetHead writes the given block and all associated state to the database,
-// and applies the block as the new chain head.
-func (bc *BlockChain) WriteBlockAndSetHead(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.Receipt, logs []*types.Log, state *state.StateDB, emitHeadEvent bool) (status WriteStatus, err error) {
-	if !bc.chainmu.TryLock() {
-		return NonStatTy, errChainStopped
-	}
-	defer bc.chainmu.Unlock()
-
-	return bc.writeBlockAndSetHead(block, receipts, logs, state, emitHeadEvent)
-}
-
 // writeBlockAndSetHead is the internal implementation of WriteBlockAndSetHead.
 // This function expects the chain mutex to be held.
 func (bc *BlockChain) writeBlockAndSetHead(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.Receipt, logs []*types.Log, state *state.StateDB, emitHeadEvent bool) (status WriteStatus, err error) {