diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/functions.rs b/clippy_lints/src/functions.rs
index 59a16c36d909..e92f077b46bd 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/functions.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/functions.rs
@@ -254,16 +254,6 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> LateLintPass<'a, 'tcx> for Functions {
             if let Some(attr) = attr {
                 let fn_header_span = item.span.with_hi(sig.decl.output.span().hi());
                 check_needless_must_use(cx, &sig.decl, item.hir_id, item.span, fn_header_span, attr);
-            } else if cx.access_levels.is_exported(item.hir_id) && !is_proc_macro(&item.attrs) {
-                check_must_use_candidate(
-                    cx,
-                    &sig.decl,
-                    cx.tcx.hir().body(*body_id),
-                    item.span,
-                    item.hir_id,
-                    item.span.with_hi(sig.decl.output.span().hi()),
-                    "this method could have a `#[must_use]` attribute",
-                );
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/tests/ui/must_use_candidates.fixed b/tests/ui/must_use_candidates.fixed
index dded5321af83..635a265f58b6 100644
--- a/tests/ui/must_use_candidates.fixed
+++ b/tests/ui/must_use_candidates.fixed
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ pub struct MyPure;
 }
 
 impl MyPure {
-    #[must_use] pub fn inherent_pure(&self) -> u8 {
+    pub fn inherent_pure(&self) -> u8 {
         0
     }
 }
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ pub trait MyPureTrait {
 }
 
 impl MyPureTrait for MyPure {
-    #[must_use] fn trait_impl_pure(&self, i: u32) -> u32 {
+    fn trait_impl_pure(&self, i: u32) -> u32 {
         i
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/ui/must_use_candidates.stderr b/tests/ui/must_use_candidates.stderr
index f3a442102373..f504aaf34e39 100644
--- a/tests/ui/must_use_candidates.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/must_use_candidates.stderr
@@ -6,18 +6,6 @@ LL | pub fn pure(i: u8) -> u8 {
    |
    = note: `-D clippy::must-use-candidate` implied by `-D warnings`
 
-error: this method could have a `#[must_use]` attribute
-  --> $DIR/must_use_candidates.rs:17:5
-   |
-LL |     pub fn inherent_pure(&self) -> u8 {
-   |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: add the attribute: `#[must_use] pub fn inherent_pure(&self) -> u8`
-
-error: this method could have a `#[must_use]` attribute
-  --> $DIR/must_use_candidates.rs:31:5
-   |
-LL |     fn trait_impl_pure(&self, i: u32) -> u32 {
-   |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: add the attribute: `#[must_use] fn trait_impl_pure(&self, i: u32) -> u32`
-
 error: this function could have a `#[must_use]` attribute
   --> $DIR/must_use_candidates.rs:48:1
    |
@@ -36,5 +24,5 @@ error: this function could have a `#[must_use]` attribute
 LL | pub fn arcd(_x: Arc<u32>) -> bool {
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: add the attribute: `#[must_use] pub fn arcd(_x: Arc<u32>) -> bool`
 
-error: aborting due to 6 previous errors
+error: aborting due to 4 previous errors