diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/characterproperties.cpp b/icu4c/source/common/characterproperties.cpp
index 53367489de05..3aff85b3f119 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/characterproperties.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/characterproperties.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ using icu::UnicodeSet;
 
 namespace {
 
-U_CDECL_BEGIN
-
 UBool U_CALLCONV characterproperties_cleanup();
 
 struct Inclusion {
@@ -82,8 +80,6 @@ UBool U_CALLCONV characterproperties_cleanup() {
     return TRUE;
 }
 
-U_CDECL_END
-
 }  // namespace
 
 U_NAMESPACE_BEGIN