diff --git a/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c b/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c
index 7e34901..6b5f718 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c
@@ -1658,20 +1658,26 @@
 }
 
 /**
- * batadv_tt_global_del_orig_entry - remove and free an orig_entry
+ * _batadv_tt_global_del_orig_entry - remove and free an orig_entry
  * @tt_global_entry: the global entry to remove the orig_entry from
  * @orig_entry: the orig entry to remove and free
  *
  * Remove an orig_entry from its list in the given tt_global_entry and
  * free this orig_entry afterwards.
+ *
+ * Caller must hold tt_global_entry->list_lock and ensure orig_entry->list is
+ * part of a list.
  */
 static void
-batadv_tt_global_del_orig_entry(struct batadv_tt_global_entry *tt_global_entry,
-				struct batadv_tt_orig_list_entry *orig_entry)
+_batadv_tt_global_del_orig_entry(struct batadv_tt_global_entry *tt_global_entry,
+				 struct batadv_tt_orig_list_entry *orig_entry)
 {
 	batadv_tt_global_size_dec(orig_entry->orig_node,
 				  tt_global_entry->common.vid);
 	atomic_dec(&tt_global_entry->orig_list_count);
+	/* requires holding tt_global_entry->list_lock and orig_entry->list
+	 * being part of a list
+	 */
 	hlist_del_rcu(&orig_entry->list);
 	batadv_tt_orig_list_entry_free_ref(orig_entry);
 }
@@ -1687,7 +1693,7 @@
 	spin_lock_bh(&tt_global_entry->list_lock);
 	head = &tt_global_entry->orig_list;
 	hlist_for_each_entry_safe(orig_entry, safe, head, list)
-		batadv_tt_global_del_orig_entry(tt_global_entry, orig_entry);
+		_batadv_tt_global_del_orig_entry(tt_global_entry, orig_entry);
 	spin_unlock_bh(&tt_global_entry->list_lock);
 }
 
@@ -1722,8 +1728,8 @@
 				   orig_node->orig,
 				   tt_global_entry->common.addr,
 				   BATADV_PRINT_VID(vid), message);
-			batadv_tt_global_del_orig_entry(tt_global_entry,
-							orig_entry);
+			_batadv_tt_global_del_orig_entry(tt_global_entry,
+							 orig_entry);
 		}
 	}
 	spin_unlock_bh(&tt_global_entry->list_lock);