diff --git a/p2p/enode/node.go b/p2p/enode/node.go
index d241eb228d..b454ab2554 100644
--- a/p2p/enode/node.go
+++ b/p2p/enode/node.go
@@ -253,13 +253,3 @@ func RandomID(a ID, n int) (b ID) {
 	}
 	return b
 }
-
-// Equal returns a boolean reporting whether a and b contain the same bytes.
-func Equal(a, b ID) bool {
-	for i := range a {
-		if a[i] != b[i] {
-			return false
-		}
-	}
-	return true
-}
diff --git a/p2p/metrics.go b/p2p/metrics.go
index ca02c4e65d..d7873f39a5 100644
--- a/p2p/metrics.go
+++ b/p2p/metrics.go
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ func (c *meteredConn) handshakeDone(id enode.ID) {
 func (c *meteredConn) Close() error {
 	err := c.Conn.Close()
 	c.lock.RLock()
-	if enode.Equal(c.id, enode.ID{}) {
+	if c.id == (enode.ID{}) {
 		// If the peer disconnects before the handshake.
 		c.lock.RUnlock()
 		meteredPeerFeed.Send(MeteredPeerEvent{