diff --git a/runtime/mirror/class-inl.h b/runtime/mirror/class-inl.h
index 6a65e12..366a662 100644
--- a/runtime/mirror/class-inl.h
+++ b/runtime/mirror/class-inl.h
@@ -65,6 +65,17 @@
       OFFSET_OF_OBJECT_MEMBER(Class, super_class_));
 }
 
+inline void Class::SetSuperClass(ObjPtr<Class> new_super_class) {
+  // Super class is assigned once, except during class linker initialization.
+  if (kIsDebugBuild) {
+    ObjPtr<Class> old_super_class =
+        GetFieldObject<Class>(OFFSET_OF_OBJECT_MEMBER(Class, super_class_));
+    DCHECK(old_super_class == nullptr || old_super_class == new_super_class);
+  }
+  DCHECK(new_super_class != nullptr);
+  SetFieldObject<false>(OFFSET_OF_OBJECT_MEMBER(Class, super_class_), new_super_class);
+}
+
 template<VerifyObjectFlags kVerifyFlags, ReadBarrierOption kReadBarrierOption>
 inline ClassLoader* Class::GetClassLoader() {
   return GetFieldObject<ClassLoader, kVerifyFlags, kReadBarrierOption>(
diff --git a/runtime/mirror/class.h b/runtime/mirror/class.h
index c9f27ad..2ed2d87 100644
--- a/runtime/mirror/class.h
+++ b/runtime/mirror/class.h
@@ -683,14 +683,7 @@
   // `This` and `klass` must be classes.
   ObjPtr<Class> GetCommonSuperClass(Handle<Class> klass) REQUIRES_SHARED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
-  void SetSuperClass(ObjPtr<Class> new_super_class) REQUIRES_SHARED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
-    // Super class is assigned once, except during class linker initialization.
-    ObjPtr<Class> old_super_class =
-        GetFieldObject<Class>(OFFSET_OF_OBJECT_MEMBER(Class, super_class_));
-    DCHECK(old_super_class == nullptr || old_super_class == new_super_class);
-    DCHECK(new_super_class != nullptr);
-    SetFieldObject<false>(OFFSET_OF_OBJECT_MEMBER(Class, super_class_), new_super_class);
-  }
+  void SetSuperClass(ObjPtr<Class> new_super_class) REQUIRES_SHARED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
   bool HasSuperClass() REQUIRES_SHARED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
     return GetSuperClass() != nullptr;