diff --git a/src/libs/clangbackendipc/cmbalivemessage.cpp b/src/libs/clangbackendipc/cmbalivemessage.cpp
index 8fea9d9f43d..72a4d37bea6 100644
--- a/src/libs/clangbackendipc/cmbalivemessage.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/clangbackendipc/cmbalivemessage.cpp
@@ -25,26 +25,10 @@
 
 #include "cmbalivemessage.h"
 
-#include <QDataStream>
 #include <QDebug>
 
 namespace ClangBackEnd {
 
-QDataStream &operator<<(QDataStream &out, const AliveMessage &/*message*/)
-{
-    return out;
-}
-
-QDataStream &operator>>(QDataStream &in, AliveMessage &/*message*/)
-{
-    return in;
-}
-
-bool operator==(const AliveMessage &/*first*/, const AliveMessage &/*second*/)
-{
-    return true;
-}
-
 QDebug operator<<(QDebug debug, const AliveMessage &/*message*/)
 {
     return debug.nospace() << "AliveMessage()";
diff --git a/src/libs/clangbackendipc/cmbalivemessage.h b/src/libs/clangbackendipc/cmbalivemessage.h
index a198f44be3a..0b49498156a 100644
--- a/src/libs/clangbackendipc/cmbalivemessage.h
+++ b/src/libs/clangbackendipc/cmbalivemessage.h
@@ -27,15 +27,28 @@
 
 #include "clangbackendipc_global.h"
 
+#include <QDataStream>
+
 namespace ClangBackEnd {
 
-class CMBIPC_EXPORT AliveMessage
+class AliveMessage
 {
-};
+public:
+    friend QDataStream &operator<<(QDataStream &out, const AliveMessage &/*message*/)
+    {
+        return out;
+    }
 
-CMBIPC_EXPORT QDataStream &operator<<(QDataStream &out, const AliveMessage &message);
-CMBIPC_EXPORT QDataStream &operator>>(QDataStream &in, AliveMessage &message);
-CMBIPC_EXPORT bool operator==(const AliveMessage &first, const AliveMessage &second);
+    friend QDataStream &operator>>(QDataStream &in, AliveMessage &/*message*/)
+    {
+        return in;
+    }
+
+    friend bool operator==(const AliveMessage &/*first*/, const AliveMessage &/*second*/)
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+};
 
 CMBIPC_EXPORT QDebug operator<<(QDebug debug, const AliveMessage &message);