diff --git a/avl.c b/avl.c
index 0dfd903..8d0bf65 100644
--- a/avl.c
+++ b/avl.c
@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ avl_init(struct avl_tree *tree, avl_tree_comp comp, bool allow_dups, void *ptr)
   tree->cmp_ptr = ptr;
 }
 
+static inline struct avl_node *avl_next(struct avl_node *node)
+{
+    return list_entry(node->list.next, struct avl_node, list);
+}
+
 /**
  * Finds a node in an avl-tree with a certain key
  * @param tree pointer to avl-tree
@@ -236,7 +241,7 @@ avl_insert(struct avl_tree *tree, struct avl_node *new)
   last = node;
 
   while (!list_is_last(&last->list, &tree->list_head)) {
-    next = list_next_element(last, list);
+    next = avl_next(last);
     if (next->leader) {
       break;
     }
@@ -307,7 +312,7 @@ avl_delete(struct avl_tree *tree, struct avl_node *node)
   if (node->leader) {
     if (tree->allow_dups
         && !list_is_last(&node->list, &tree->list_head)
-        && !(next = list_next_element(node, list))->leader) {
+        && !(next = avl_next(node))->leader) {
       next->leader = true;
       next->balance = node->balance;
 
diff --git a/avl.h b/avl.h
index 8323246..e4ca7d8 100644
--- a/avl.h
+++ b/avl.h
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
 #include "list.h"
-#include "list_compat.h"
 
 /* Support for OLSR.org linker symbol export */
 #define EXPORT(sym) sym
diff --git a/list_compat.h b/list_compat.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 44cfedd..0000000
--- a/list_compat.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright (C) 2011-2013 Felix Fietkau <nbd@openwrt.org>
- *
- * Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
- * purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
- * copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
- *
- * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
- * WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
- * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
- * ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
- * WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
- * ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
- * OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
- */
-
-#ifndef __LIST_COMPAT_H
-#define __LIST_COMPAT_H
-
-#define list_is_empty(_list)			list_empty(_list)
-#define list_next_element(_element, _member)	list_entry((_element)->_member.next, typeof(*(_element)), _member)
-
-
-#endif