diff --git a/src/model_config_utils.cc b/src/model_config_utils.cc
index 9066c7b9c..cc31f666c 100644
--- a/src/model_config_utils.cc
+++ b/src/model_config_utils.cc
@@ -418,6 +418,34 @@ ValidateIOShape(
   return Status::Success;
 }
 
+/// Validate that Non-linear format inputs or outputs are specified correctly
+/// in a model configuration.
+template <class ModelIO>
+Status
+ValidateNonLinearFormatIO(
+    const ModelIO& io, const std::string& platform, bool is_input)
+{
+  if (!io.is_non_linear_format_io()) {
+    // Nothing to validate as the tensor is not non-linear format.
+    return Status::Success;
+  }
+
+  if (platform != kTensorRTPlanPlatform) {
+    return Status(
+        Status::Code::INVALID_ARG,
+        "Non-linear IO format is only supported for the TensorRT platform");
+  }
+
+  if (io.dims_size() != 3) {
+    std::string io_type = is_input ? "input" : "output";
+    return Status(
+        Status::Code::INVALID_ARG,
+        "Non-linear IO format " + io_type + " requires 3 dims");
+  }
+
+  return Status::Success;
+}
+
 }  // namespace
 
 Status
@@ -1712,31 +1740,6 @@ ValidateInstanceGroup(
   return Status::Success;
 }
 
-Status
-ValidateNonLinearFormatIO(
-    const inference::ModelInput& io, const std::string& platform, bool is_input)
-{
-  if (!io.is_non_linear_format_io()) {
-    // Nothing to validate as the tensor is not non-linear format.
-    return Status::Success;
-  }
-
-  if (platform != kTensorRTPlanPlatform) {
-    return Status(
-        Status::Code::INVALID_ARG,
-        "Non-linear IO format is only supported for the TensorRT platform");
-  }
-
-  if (io.dims_size() != 3) {
-    std::string io_type = is_input ? "input" : "output";
-    return Status(
-        Status::Code::INVALID_ARG,
-        "Non-linear IO format " + io_type + " requires 3 dims");
-  }
-
-  return Status::Success;
-}
-
 Status
 ValidateModelInput(
     const inference::ModelInput& io, int32_t max_batch_size,
diff --git a/src/model_config_utils.h b/src/model_config_utils.h
index 60d6b6ac0..8bd9af600 100644
--- a/src/model_config_utils.h
+++ b/src/model_config_utils.h
@@ -172,17 +172,6 @@ Status ValidateInstanceGroup(
 /// is not valid.
 Status ValidateModelIOConfig(const inference::ModelConfig& config);
 
-/// Validate that Non-linear format inputs or outputs are specified correctly
-/// in a model configuration.
-/// \param io The model input.
-/// \param platform The platform name
-/// \param is_input Specifies whether it is an input or an output.
-/// \return The error status. A non-OK status indicates the configuration
-/// is not valid.
-Status ValidateNonLinearFormatIO(
-    const inference::ModelInput& io, const std::string& platform,
-    bool is_input);
-
 /// Validate that input is specified correctly in a model
 /// configuration.
 /// \param io The model input.