diff --git a/kernel/rtlil.h b/kernel/rtlil.h
index 3edf6b053..ec47adb0e 100644
--- a/kernel/rtlil.h
+++ b/kernel/rtlil.h
@@ -241,8 +241,6 @@ struct RTLIL::IdString
 		*this = id;
 	}
 
-	constexpr inline IdString id_string() const { return *this; }
-
 	inline const char *c_str() const {
 		if (index_ >= 0)
 			return global_id_storage_.at(index_).buf;
diff --git a/passes/cmds/example_dt.cc b/passes/cmds/example_dt.cc
index 7d1c42a79..b10f50502 100644
--- a/passes/cmds/example_dt.cc
+++ b/passes/cmds/example_dt.cc
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ struct ExampleDtPass : public Pass
 			auto enqueue = [&](DriveSpec const &spec) {
 				int index = queue(spec);
 				if (index == GetSize(graph_nodes))
-					graph_nodes.emplace_back(compute_graph.add(ID($pending).id_string(), index).index());
+					graph_nodes.emplace_back(compute_graph.add(ID($pending), index).index());
 				//if (index >= GetSize(graph_nodes))
 				return compute_graph[graph_nodes[index]];
 			};