diff --git a/lib/internal/util.js b/lib/internal/util.js
index 4470770a99..5c47d06d58 100644
--- a/lib/internal/util.js
+++ b/lib/internal/util.js
@@ -10,12 +10,6 @@ const kDecoratedPrivateSymbolIndex = binding['decorated_private_symbol'];
 // `util` module makes it accessible without having to `require('util')` there.
 exports.customInspectSymbol = Symbol('util.inspect.custom');
 
-// All the internal deprecations have to use this function only, as this will
-// prepend the prefix to the actual message.
-exports.deprecate = function(fn, msg, code) {
-  return exports._deprecate(fn, msg, code);
-};
-
 exports.trace = function(msg) {
   console.trace(`${prefix}${msg}`);
 };
@@ -23,11 +17,11 @@ exports.trace = function(msg) {
 // Mark that a method should not be used.
 // Returns a modified function which warns once by default.
 // If --no-deprecation is set, then it is a no-op.
-exports._deprecate = function(fn, msg, code) {
+exports.deprecate = function deprecate(fn, msg, code) {
   // Allow for deprecating things in the process of starting up.
   if (global.process === undefined) {
     return function() {
-      return exports._deprecate(fn, msg).apply(this, arguments);
+      return exports.deprecate(fn, msg, code).apply(this, arguments);
     };
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/util.js b/lib/util.js
index dec2e6b390..96a9c70e99 100644
--- a/lib/util.js
+++ b/lib/util.js
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ exports.format = function(f) {
 };
 
 
-exports.deprecate = internalUtil._deprecate;
+exports.deprecate = internalUtil.deprecate;
 
 
 var debugs = {};