diff --git a/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/DataHelper.java b/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/DataHelper.java
index bb1ffe55c..0d04ee373 100644
--- a/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/DataHelper.java
+++ b/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/DataHelper.java
@@ -535,6 +535,8 @@ public class DataHelper {
         else
             writeLong(out, DATE_LENGTH, date.getTime());
     }
+
+    /** @deprecated unused */
     public static byte[] toDate(Date date) throws IllegalArgumentException {
         if (date == null)
             return toLong(DATE_LENGTH, 0L);